My Study Abroad Experience in Paris with CIEE
Authored By:
By: Julia Chapman
I am reaching the end of my time in Paris and wanted to share some of my thoughts with anyone considering this program in the future!
First, CIEE has been very helpful through this whole process. I knew I wanted to go abroad with a company that was going to be more hands-on. They figured out housing for us, they helped with the process of enrolling in the local university, and they even arranged transportation from the airport when I landed on the first day. As someone who has not done a lot of international travel, especially by myself, this was so helpful.
I enjoyed all the classes that I took at CIEE, and I ended up with a schedule where I didn’t have class on Monday or Friday. I would suggest that if you can make this happen while you’re abroad, do it! You are going to want the extra time for travelling and exploring the city. Especially in a city like Paris where the big tourist areas are busy on the weekends, its really nice to go during the week when the crowds are smaller. The classes at CIEE are 2.5 hours, which seems really long, but we always have a break in the middle, and you only meet once a week so its not too bad.
In my opinion, Paris is a great choice for studying abroad. It’s a huge city that has so much to offer, so even when you are not travelling, there is always something to do! And then when you do want to travel, there are so many options. There are three airports and many train stations in and around Paris that I have used. I highly recommend you go on the weekend trips and day trips that CIEE offers. It such a great way to see other cities within France and meet more people in your program. Also, all of the transport, housing, and some food is covered, so you’ll save some money too!
I have really enjoyed my experience in Paris and would totally recommend this program to anyone looking to study abroad here!