By Cathryn Lien, Features Editor
Asbury University’s mission to “impact the world” is exemplified through a variety of cross-cultural study abroad programs offered by the Global Engagement Office, but the Paris Semester has consistently drawn significant interest since launching in 2014. According to the fall 2017 semester students, the Paris Semester attracts Asburians because the curriculum completely immerses students in all facets of French culture.
The Paris Semester costs the same tuition, room and board rate as a typical semester on Asbury’s campus and does not require fluency in French, making the opportunity attractive to all majors and to all levels of experience abroad.
Art majors like sophomore Anna Renaud and junior Ann Vatharaj were attracted to the city’s history and cultural significance, saying they enjoyed free access to the majority of museums. Sophomore Sophie Saint Firmin, a journalism student, came to Asbury specifically for the Paris Semester because she wanted a “big city” experience aside from attending a small-town school.
For senior film and theater student Joshua Magee, he knew a cross-cultural experience would help his future career in film and theater. “I wanted to be exposed to a Western European nation and immerse myself in a different language,” he said.
Born in the south of France to missionary parents, junior Chantal Barlow said her upbringing influenced her decision to major in French. The Paris Semester was the perfect opportunity to improve her language skills and return to her roots. “I’ve moved so much in my life, but I’ve never felt more at home than when I returned to Chambery.”
The program’s dormitory and classroom space in the St. Germain district places students in the heart of Paris. Students who spoke conversational French, like Barlow and sophomore Charisse Sallade, were placed in host families.
“We were lucky to be placed in comfortable homes. Usually, it’s a toss up, but either way, there’s nothing more beneficial than practicing with native speakers,” Barlow said.
The classroom was a cross-cultural experience in itself. The students attended class three days a week, with each class lasting about two and a half hours with 15-minute breaks in between. Except for French language courses, all classes were held at night.
The students said homework absorbed the majority of their time but that they learned deeply. All courses offered during the semester (French language, Art History, French History and Christianity and French Culture) are designed to relate to one another.
Students have the option to take an internship credit or a directed art study. Magee worked in a bilingual acting studio, assisting with beginner classes and studying under advanced instruction. He called it the “most intense acting experience of my life.”
Saint Firmin said her internship with the American Library in Paris influenced her post-graduate plans. “I worked with a New York Times reporter who told me about a journalism fellowship in Paris. I’d love to return for grad school.”
Renaud, Vatharaj and Sallade chose directed studies in painting and drawing and were taught how to make their own materials, such as varnish, paint and thinner. Sallade said she spent hours studying “Self Portrait Rembrandt, 1633” and copying it in studio.
“We learned the great discipline behind older masters’ style painting. It was a lot of prep and grit and [it was] time consuming, but so beneficial,” Renaud said.
Transportation was one of the biggest culture shocks for the group. Walking long distances, steering clear of street thieves and navigating the Metro system were challenges. Holidays, however, were an unexpected shock.
“They don’t have Thanksgiving in France, and Halloween is not for little kids!” Saint Firmin said. “They served us fish gelatin, mushroomed pork, potatoes and squash for Thanksgiving dinner. On Halloween day, costume shops had lines that went around the block, and most college students went clubbing that night.”
The students also said their faith and idea of religion were challenged and, therefore, grew during their time in Paris.
“I learned that I cannot witness the same way in France as I do in America. How you express your Christianity and evangelize is dependent on culture,” Saint Firmin said.
Sallade said living in a French host family changed how she viewed sects of Christianity. “I was raised in a Protestant home, but my host family in Paris was devout Catholic. I had to change my mindset. I learned to appreciate their way of worship and faith while still disagreeing with their theology.”
Renaud said that the French value quality over quantity, and not just in terms of food. “The French might not have a large group of friends, but they have loyal and meaningful relationships. Americans can learn to be more intentional, especially in our evangelism.”
Vatharaj agreed. “It’s necessary to understand how God works within people. A lot of American Christians take their ideas and shove it down. We need to make deeper connections when we evangelize.”
The group admitted it’s been difficult to adjust to American life.
“We miss the cheese and bread!” Magee said. “When we took a field trip to Normandy, we shared twelve large baguettes in just two days. The stereotype of French people carrying bread everywhere they go is real and wonderful.”
Vatharaj said she missed the friendliness of Americans. “People in Paris don’t interact with strangers as we do. They’re more reserved. Soon after the trip, I went into my hometown grocery and had a conversation with someone I’d never met before. That wouldn’t have happened in France.”
Magee, on the other hand, welcomed the seemingly aloof behavior of Parisians. “They aren’t rude people. They are stoic. They won’t give you affection unless they know your character. I’ve tried to adopt that attitude.”
Saint Firmin said that while she will miss aspects of Paris, she isn’t upset about returning to the States. “It’s an experience, and I cannot hold onto it forever. God puts you in places to discover more about yourself.”
Sallade said the trip has confirmed her call from God to live abroad, but she is still debriefing from the experience. “God will guide me. If I study or live abroad again, I know it will be difficult. There is a time of transition, and God helps you enjoy your days rather than count them down.”
Magee added that the Paris Semester is worthwhile, but it’s not for the faint of heart. “The more I learned, the more I realized how much I don’t know. The trip is definitely not a vacation. It’s a lot of work AND fun.”
