As my semester abroad is in its final stretch and I reminisce on my semester in Paris and my other European travels, I can safely say Paris is my favorite city (I’m biased since I studied in Paris). Paris has so much to do; it felt like everyday I would stumble upon a new neighborhood and beautiful area with magnificent architecture, art, restaurants or nature. I was able to capitalize on the historic and mesmerizing museums and highly recommend others to do the same, as almost all of them were free for EU students. One of my main goals while abroad was to explore Europe since this was only my second time ever being here, so I was able to travel a lot during the semester. Now that I am done with finals, I am solo traveling 5 countries in Europe before I head home for the holidays! Traveling in Europe is much cheaper than in the US, especially with busses like Flixbus or airlines like Ryanair. I always stay at hostels too which are the cheapest option. In regards to Paris specifically, it was definitely one of if not the most expensive city I experienced in Europe, so if you are trying to stay budget friendly, I recommend eating at Crous cafes for students (€3.30 for lunch or dinner) and the Latin Quarter which offers cheap food.
As I reminisce on my time in Paris, I cannot stress enough how great the GW Study Program was. They offered many events, trips and meals that truly encompassed French culture that I would’ve never experienced otherwise! My favorite trip was definitely the trip to Mont Saint Michel, my favorite event was going to the Opera, and all of the dinners were great but I especially enjoyed the Thanksgiving dinner and our final dinner. The GW staff Florence and David were spectacular and very helpful!
If you are trying to improve your French, try to make French friends and practice with them! My university, Paris Dauphine, had a buddy system setup so I could get acclimated to Paris and my school, but it can be hard to make friends in a situation where everyone speaks other languages. Parisians often speak English to foreigners even if you can speak solid French, but don’t be discouraged to practice! Also, don’t be shy and reach out to other exchange students since they’re in the same boat as you! I met some absolutely amazing people and although I wish I could’ve spent more time in Paris and got to know more exchange students, I am grateful for my time abroad and am going to miss Paris and the people I met very much.
Stephen Shaw
Fall 2023
GW Paris - Universite Paris- Dauphine (GW Study Program)
School of Business
International Business Major