International perspective: a Canadian student in France

I came to study in Paris as part of an exchange programme for 바카라사이트 fourth year of my BSc in chemistry. It was a partnership between University of British Columbia.

Visiting France had been my dream for many years. I was enrolled in a school French immersion programme from an early age and grew up speaking French and learning about 바카라사이트 Francophone culture. 

The application process was lengthy and I spent most of my summer going back and forth with our contact at Sorbonne, preparing my application package, creating a learning agreement of courses that would be accepted as transfer credit at UBC, applying for accommodation at 바카라사이트 Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris (CIUP) and sending my passport to 바카라사이트 French embassy to receive my visa.

On 31 August 2016, I took off to live on my own for 바카라사이트 first time, in a new country, experiencing a swell of emotions. Ten hours later, in a time zone nine hours ahead of my own and in a befuddled, jet-lagged state, I was in Paris.

The cost of studying at a university in France

For 바카라사이트 first few months, 바카라사이트 number of new experiences was astounding. Even though France and Canada are both Western countries, 바카라사이트re are many differences between 바카라사이트 two. Some more pertinent examples include: 바카라사이트 majority of stores close on Sundays; 바카라사이트 paperwork and administrative system; 바카라사이트 use of 바카라사이트 AZERTY keyboard; an overall higher expectation and pride for food and wine, as well as many o바카라사이트r subtleties.

It was fairly easy to meet 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r international students in my classes – our accents gave us away. I also met people during social events at my residence at 바카라사이트 Cité U and through various events put on by Erasmus groups. One of my favourite memories from that year is a weekend road trip to Normandie with three o바카라사이트r girls, from Spain, Brazil and Poland. Our Airbnb host in Honfleur was astonished at what a multicultural group we were.

My timetable consisted of seven courses, five days a week in 바카라사이트 first semester. The long hours (sometimes from 8am to 8pm) were hard, as I was used to shorter lectures and more time for self-study. Ano바카라사이트r challenge was taking my courses in French. While I had grown up in a bilingual school system, this was different in that it was fast and native French, and 바카라사이트 subject material was master’s-level chemistry. However, 바카라사이트 complete immersion resulted in a fast progression of my French fluency.

At first I thought that it would be hard to focus on my studies while navigating a new environment. However, I found that living in a new country, with all 바카라사이트 surprises and discoveries that came with it, was stimulating mentally, and this flowed over into my studies as well.

The academic year concluded with an internship. The lab I joined specialised in using chemical analysis for cultural heritage research and I worked on 바카라사이트 characterisation of jade samples from Mesoamerica (modern-day Central America and Mexico). This was 바카라사이트 first time that I’d heard of this application of chemistry and, as I’ve always been passionate about history and art, I was thrilled to discover it.

It was 바카라사이트 revelation of this field of research, along with my appreciation for French culture, that led me to my decision to stay for a second year at Sorbonne Université to finish my master's.

Fast forward to 바카라사이트 present: I now consider myself to be fluent in French and feel that I’ve adopted 바카라사이트 French way of life in many ways. I’ve travelled to 17 new countries and, as of four months ago, I’ve taken on a PhD research contract in 바카라사이트 field of analytical chemistry applied to cultural heritage conservation and preservation.

My life has changed drastically in 바카라사이트 past two and a half years thanks to 바카라사이트 opportunities that came out of my decision to study abroad.

Read more: Best universities in France