After spending 4 months in France, I still think that the single thing that surprised and shocked me the most is the way in which people work and the differences they have compared with the American work ethic. In France, people seem to have a less strict and less demanding work life, where they are…
Category: France: IAU College
Pre-Departure Blog
One important aspect of U.S. culture is the importance placed upon work, productivity, and accomplishments. These three elements are a large part of one aspect of U.S. culture, which we will call work ethic. Culture involves behaviors, attitudes, and values. American culture, like others, is vast, and the work ethic aspect of American culture is reflected through the behaviors and…
Cultural Confrontation in Provence
After being in France for about two months, I am now used to the slow and enjoyable lifestyle of La Provence. Here life slows down and every moment is enjoyed deeply. At first this unsettled me, as I am used to a more fast paced lifestyle where everything is immediate and done in a rush….
Pre-Departure Reflection
In the United States, national identity plays an enormous role in everyday life. This identity, backed up by the idea of patriotism, is a very big factor for Americans when it comes to encountering new cultures and ideas. Being patriotic in the United States is more than just a characteristic, its a way of life;…
Final Post
Before I left to study for the semester abroad, I was very excited. This was mainly because I have a very culturally diverse background. Being a french citizen and growing up in a French household i feel like gave me an upper hand when packing up and moving to France for 4 months. Looking back…
Au revoir, Aix
It has been a week since I have been back from abroad. It feels, in all honesty, like I woke up from a dream – those types of dream one doesn’t forget. I used to always think people that said that their study abroad experience was life-changing were just exaggerating, that there was no way…
Facing Difficulties for Departure
When I first arrived to Aix en Provence to commence this new and exciting chapter in my life I remember feeling anxious and nervous. I was not sure how well I would integrate myself with this new group of kids for the following four months. Now that the has come to an end, I feel…
Aixoise Thanksgiving!
First of all: happy thanksgiving my fellow Americans! Mine has definitely been great so far. So much led me to be where I am right now, having Thanksgiving lunch with great friends I have made here at IAU and experiencing some of the best moments of my life. During Fall Break I wrote my last…
Traveling Europe/France
One of the things I was excited about the most about studying abroad was having the opportunity to travel to places I have never been to before. Not only being able to travel and experience cool new places, but the people you travel with too are what make the trips all so special. Since I…
Pre-departure
During the pre departure orientation, we discudssed different situations, in which one, being from America, would most likely react differently to someone being from Europe. In many aspects, I believe I have a certain advantage over many people since I grew up in a “french” (kind of) and venezuelan household. I have traveled to visit…