“You never really know what something is like until you experience it for yourself” …during study abroad in France.

– Katherine Knippel, SPC Student, France Program, June 2019

This summer, I had one of the most culturally enlightening and fascinatingly edifying experiences of my entire life. To put it simply: I participated in an amazing study abroad program through St. Petersburg College, which provided me with an educational and eye-opening experience.

Traveling around the world and immersing yourself in a new environment with new individuals teaches what cannot be taught in a classroom: A fresh view of the world, and the people who inhabit it. It gives that sense of “I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”

The first step towards new perspectives began as very personal to me, showing me that the apprehension of an event is nearly always worse than the actual event itself. I’ve had a fear of flying ever since I was old enough to develop situational awareness, but luckily, all of the plane rides I went through were quite comfortable and smooth, not to mention, on time!

After I landed in Nice, France (Yes, France!), I was greeted by a lovely young woman who was the daughter of my host mother. During these two weeks, I would be living with a local host family, thereby fully engaging in the culture of France. My educational purpose of studying in Nice was to grasp a better understanding of the French language, something that I have been passionate about for the past year.

My host family was incredibly hospitable, and I found myself very enamored with the harmonious nature of their interactions, not to mention their gentle and lovable cats!

My schedule every weekday consisted of two to four language classes, all centered around vocabulary, grammar, and general conversation. The school hosted students from all over the world–Sweden, Hungary, South Korea, Columbia, Spain, and many more countries. This was one of the very best parts of the program. It was endlessly interesting to learn about the differences in another student’s way of life, but also about the similarities. It turns out, people from other countries enjoy Netflix and ice cream too!

On the weekend, I was fortunate enough to visit Monaco and Cannes with other students in the program. We visited the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco (a lovely aquarium with sea turtles and a fascinating exhibit on ocean research vessels), stunning chapels that held wonderfully peaceful energies, the building where the Cannes Film Festival is held, Saint-Marguerite island, plus other locations, not to mention breath-taking views from almost every angle.

By the second week of classes, I was already becoming more confident in my French. I was constantly practicing how I would translate certain phrases, saying them aloud sometimes to my new international friends for confirmation. I loved walking around Nice. My favorite place to go was a large shopping center on the avenue Jean-Medecin. I was able to find some articles of clothing and souvenirs that I really liked, though there was a severe lack of French writing (I traveled all the way to France for English merchandise!).

I found bookstores, food stands, and, my personal favorite, art museums that were close enough for me to walk to. Possibly my favorite day of the program was when I started with French class in the morning, then visited a cafe to enjoy lunch, and spent the rest of the day going to art museums and admiring the artifacts and French architecture. This was one of the only days I spent out on my own, and there was something truly liberating and freeing about it all.

But, sadly, as do all great adventures, this one came to a close all too soon. At the end of the second week, I bid my new friends goodbye, promising to remain companions online, packed my bags, thanked my wonderful host family for such a welcoming visit, and departed to the airport.

On the long flight back, I reflected on all of the memories I acquired and the lessons I had learned, and I can safely say that the sensation is hard to put into words. France is a place that many people associate with love, class, and good food. It is also a place whose population is, for some ungodly reason, labeled as uptight, snobby, and generally rude. This could not be farther from the truth.

If there’s one thing that this trip has taught me, it’s that you never really know what something is like until you experience it for yourself. It’s worth the risk of rejection, the awareness of consequence, and the fear of the unknown. So my advice to you is this: take advantage of life’s opportunities. And please, if you ever find yourself in Nice, try the socca. Just make sure you don’t substitute it for a meal.

– Katherine Knippel, SPC Student, France Program, June 2019

Thank you for sharing Katherine!

Questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here to help you!

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