Caen, Normandy
An Unforgettable Journey
Ever since my first French lessons in high school, I dreamed of someday studying or even working in a francophone country. For the spring semester of 2018 I was able to realize that goal, at least partially, in my time spent at the Université de Caen, Normandie.
What I Learned About France, and Myself
I view myself as an incredibly lucky student. My educational experience has been remarkably mindful of the increasingly globalized world ever since my middle school offered courses in German and Spanish. Not all kids have access to those kinds of introductions. These kind of diverse perspectives on the world only grew by the time I reached university, and it really prepared me for the different world I would face in France.
First and foremost in anyone's mind, is the technical information my coursework had given me for this kind of excursion. One might expect that nearly six years of a foreign language is a must to live abroad, and its true that being able to better communicate with those around me made the experience that much more enjoyable and impactful. However if my friend Chris, who had not taken so much as a month of French courses before arriving in Normandy, taught me anything; it's that the world is more accommodating than ever when it comes to English speakers or anyone who is willing to embrace another culture.
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Perhaps it was my political science and history courses then that prepared me most. After all, I'm not sure I would have been as patient in dealing with the bureaucracy, regulations, or lapses in public transportation if I hadn't been instructed in the unitary French state, the enforcement mechanisms of the European Union, or the people's history of "solidarité."
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I encountered a Palestinian classmate who made some surprisingly casual, antisemitic remarks. Some might have seen that as a reason to avoid him, but through my international studies major I've come to understand the kind of complexities that fuel resentment like my classmate's and better pursue cultural détente.
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In the end, or I should say at the beginning, it was all of these lessons that made me ready for my time in Normandy. No single one of them could guard against the culture shock on their own. That's what being a global scholar is about: seeing the world from all possible perspectives and using that to get the most out of it for oneself as well as for others.
Important Works
All three artifacts here are in French, click the buttons to view.
A Little About Home
This presentation appears somewhat sparse compared to the other artifacts without me speaking to give it context. However, it really served as my introduction into my new atmosphere, and even now the few images make me think about what parts of my life and culture are most defining.
Looking Forward...
How my Global Experience will Help Me Succeed
Naturally, I gained a lot of practice in my foreign language of choice while in Caen. As someone pursuing French as a major, rather than a minor, certificate, or course requirement; I view the language as a very important part of my life. I hope to improve my fluency and use the French language in as many aspects of my future as possible. With hopes of using it in my career, I applied myself to learn as much vocabulary and structure as I could. While not yet at the level of a native speaker, I feel much more competent discussing specific topics in a professional setting. Given that only a handful of hours were spent in classes each day, I was able to grow my informal skills almost as much if not more. Being able to socialize with natives and pick up on slang is key to understanding any culture or its artistic works.
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Despite the benefits just listed, foreign language immersion was not the most memorable experience during my time abroad, nor was it the area in which I grew the most as a person. What I really found to be the greatest benefit of my study abroad was the self confidence I obtained. I was encouraged by my situation to explore my surroundings, meet new people, and take charge of my own life. I know now that I can make new friends from scratch. I know I can successfully make my own travel plans, and I know I can get done the things most important to me.
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Ultimately, I believe my experience in Normandy was a social one. People might scoff at that confession in a reflection that is meant to extol the academic and professional benefits of my global experience, especially when it had a steep price tag. I don't see why the two have to be any different. For anyone, knowing themselves and interacting with those around them is a part of a healthy lifestyle as social animals. These social and introspective skills are even more important for me because I want to work with people. It's a very broad career goal, but I cannot see myself in a position where I am separate from the people I work for or with. Speaking French will allow me to reach a huge proportion of people I never would have been able to share my skills with before, and the communication skills I developed in my time abroad will make my connections with others deeper; whatever language we might be speaking.