Hello! My name is Jacob Halter, and I’m a third-year student currently studying abroad at Sciences Po in Paris, France, for the fall semester. I’m now approaching the midpoint of my time here and wanted to reflect on my experience so far—from the nervousness and anticipation during my long journey to Paris, to finally settling in and having the city feel like home.
Before embarking on this semester abroad, I had a lot of anxiety about the unknown: going to school here, living with a host family, and adjusting to life in Paris. However, to my surprise, it has turned out to be an amazing experience. I can assure you that once you arrive in your study-abroad country, much of the worrying fades away.
I was especially nervous about making friends, not only due to preconceived notions about Europeans not wanting to befriend Americans, but also because moving to a new city without knowing anyone felt like I was repeating my first year of college. Despite this, I was able to form a wonderful group of friends from all over the world, including two of my closest friends, Martina from Catalonia and Kam from Luxembourg. I’ve also grown closer to the other students in the GW cohort, many of whom I didn’t know before. Everyone in the program has been so kind, and I’ve really enjoyed our group trips—shout out to Becca and Ellie, two of the greatest people I’ve met here. I’m excited to return to GW with them and am so grateful to have shared this experience abroad together.
Ellie Vasko and I recently took a day trip from Paris to Chantilly, in the Hauts-de-France region. Though it wasn’t the most extravagant trip, Chantilly is a beautiful small town with some of the best pastries I’ve had in France—the famous Chantilly cream is a must-try.
One of the many benefits of doing a GW study abroad program is the included excursions. From the day trip to Reims to a weekend in Normandy, I would 100% recommend going on as many GW programs as possible. Everything is included, and Florence, the manager of GW Paris, does an amazing job planning culturally enriching activities that are also a lot of fun with friends. One of my favorite trips with the GW group was visiting the Cathedral in Reims, which has the most statues of any cathedral in Western Europe and inspired the design of Notre Dame in Paris. It is truly breathtaking in person.
Another great thing about studying in Paris is the ease of travel, thanks to the high-speed rail network and Paris’s central location in Western Europe. It’s incredibly easy to take weekend trips to other countries or different regions of France. One of my favorite cities outside of France is Antwerp, which is less than two hours away by train. Belgium is a stunning country where the architecture combines Dutch and French influences, and all the local delicacies lived up to expectations.
Living with a host family has been a valuable learning experience for me. However, if you’re very independent like I am, you might prefer living in an apartment, especially in a large city like Paris. Living with a host family requires a time commitment, as you’re expected to have five meals a week with them. That said, it has been helpful for learning the language and improving my language skills, and it also helps save money, as the family provides meals.
One of my favorite courses at Sciences Po is "Russia-Ukraine Politics and Policies" with Professor Mendras. There’s no better place to learn about European history and current issues than in Europe, and I highly recommend taking courses that relate to your study-abroad country. Gaining insight from a local perspective can give you a more nuanced worldview. Professor Mendras, who has been an election observer in former Soviet countries since the dissolution of the USSR, brings extensive knowledge and firsthand experience to the class, making it incredibly insightful.
Overall, my time at Sciences Po in Paris has been transformative. My worldview has expanded immensely, and I’m excited to see how much I’ll have grown by the end of this journey.
Jacob Halter
Academic Year, 2024
GW Paris - Sciences Po (GW Study Program)
Elliott School of International Affairs
International Affairs and Economics Double Major