Where are you going to be this coming winter semester? Most of us BYU students will be in Provo, trudging to classes through bitter cold temperatures and inches of icy slush; thankfully there will be a nice hot bowl of ramen waiting for us at home. Now imagine where you could be next winter: Paris, walking to classes surrounded by centuries of exquisite architecture, practicing your French with your host family, doing your homework in the Louvre, listening to accordion players in the Metro. Instead of a hot bowl of ramen, try a fresh crêpe or maybe a kebab from the place up the street.
Now that I have your attention, guess what? Dr. Ralph Hancock of the Political Science department is leading a study abroad to Paris this very winter. Program details can be found at the Kennedy Center website by clicking here. When I asked Dr. Hancock why a study abroad to Paris would be good for a BYU student, here's what he had to say:
"The United States and France have for good reason been called “Sister Republics.” They have so much in common in their basic political and moral principles, and yet they are so different. This is why I think we have so much to learn from each other. Immersion in French language, culture and ideas provides a wonderful enlargement to Americans. The sense of intellectual and cultural possibilities that I breathed in the very air of France changed my life decisively for the better when I was a young adult, and I am eager to share this with another generation of students. And Paris is a whole, rich world in itself, with monumental beauty and simple delights at every turn. (And the winter and early spring are a great time to enjoy Paris, before the major onslaught of tourism begins.) And then there is the French language – another delight of elegance and precision."
Think about it: your next French course could be in France. It's true what he said about breathing in intellectual and cultural possibilities. You could look at a powerpoint of great Western art, or you could experience that art for yourself in some of the finest art museums in the world. Why do your reading in the HBLL when you could be reading in the Jardins du Luxembourg? In Paris you can climb the towers of Notre Dame de Paris, visit Voltaire's tomb, be inspired by the Seine, and all for BYU credit.
The flier from the Kennedy Center (see link above) will give you all the details about classes, deadlines, and expenses. When considering a study abroad, though, you should remember that coursework is only a fraction of the experience. Rebecca, who spent Winter 2010 in Paris, described the ward as one the best parts of her experience. Her advice is to "get involved in the ward...Go to the young adult activities, go to the French classes, speak French with the members, bear your testimony in French, sing the hymns, go to a baptism, go to institute". The members in Paris are very welcoming and eager for the BYU students to participate; I got to spend the last two months of my study abroad teaching Primary! Rebecca went on to say: "Going to church each Sunday in a country where almost nothing was familiar to me helped me appreciate the gospel more than ever, and helped me acclimate to French society much faster. Everyone in the ward wants to get to know you and wants to help you in anyway. Don't be shy, get involved and you'll be amazed how at home you'll feel."
Your time in Paris, with the ward, and with your classmates can change your life if you dive in and live every minute to the max. As a study abroad student, especially during the tourist off season, you'll have time to explore more of Paris than any tourist ever sees. The city is so much more than the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. There are dozens of parks, thrift stores, incredible antiques markets, concerts almost every day, stunning churches hidden between bookstores and bakeries, and amazing restaurants all there for the next group of students to discover for themselves.
Which brings me to the next reason you should go: the food. Bread, pastries, bread, cheese, bread, yogurt, bread, crêpes... oh yes, and bread. I'm not kidding here folks, French cuisine will change your life, and in Paris you eat it every day! Open air markets sell produce, fish, and cheese. Have you ever wondered what escargot tastes like? Wonder no more. And you haven't lived until you've had a real french baguette. Within a few-minutes' walk of the church you can find the best falafel in the world (so they say, and I'm inclined to believe them), exquisite baguettes, and cheese cake that will rock your world. At any boulangerie a demi-baguette costs a mere 45 centimes; it will be the best spent 45 centimes of your life. 1€ will buy you chocolate that will blow your mind.
To sum up, here's what Ariel, another Winter 2010 participant, had to say: "Going on the Paris Study Abroad was one of the best decisions of my life. It was incredible! And that's all."
