Hello! My name is Bryson Handy, and I am a junior studying at Sciences Po in Grenoble, France. As I reflect on my time here, I wanted to share one of the highlights of my experience: sports!
Grenoble, known as the “Capital of the Alps,” hosted the Winter Olympics in 1968. Since then, the city has maintained its reputation as an active, outdoorsy community. Grenoblois are often seen leaving work in sports gear, ready to bike, run, hike, climb, or ski. When I first arrived, I met my closest friends—people from entirely different backgrounds, cultures, and identities—on a hike organized by my university’s student association through the beautiful Alps. From that moment, the connection between sports and community only deepened.
Grenoble’s passion for athletics is embraced by Sciences Po, which requires all French students to take a two-hour sports class each semester. During orientation, international students were encouraged to do the same to help us learn French and integrate into both Sciences Po and the wider Université Grenoble Alpes system. I took that advice and registered for badminton—a sport I had never tried before. On the first day, I was a little nervous. Surrounded by French students, none of whom attended Sciences Po, I felt out of place. But as soon as we paired off, they introduced themselves, asked where I was from, and complimented my French. That day, I met my badminton partner, who comes from a nearby city and has since introduced me to the region.
Encouraged by that experience, I decided to join the university’s sports teams. I became a member of the Sciences Po badminton team, which practices weekly on Sundays. It’s a fun and relaxed environment where French and international students bond over everything from politics to fashion trends. After each practice, our group has a ritual called “Pizza Sundays,” when we try a new pizza restaurant together. More recently, I joined my friends’ recreational volleyball team. While the team includes multiple nationalities, it’s dominated by Italians—so we’ve adopted Italian volleyball terms, like “avanti,” to call the ball. It’s been a great way not only to stay active but also to experience another culture through sport.
As winter approaches and snow begins to cover the peaks surrounding Grenoble, I plan to learn to ski with some of my more experienced classmates. When I first arrived, I knew no one and had no other GW students to talk to. But through sports, I’ve made so many new friends from so many different places. Sports are an international language: even if “échauffement” means “warm-up” in French or “avanti” means “go” in Italian, everyone understands the shared rhythm and energy of play. I’m so grateful for the friendships and memories I’ve made through sports—they’re what I’ll always associate with my time in Grenoble.
Bryson Handy
Fall 2025
GW Exchange - Sciences Po Grenoble
Elliott School of International Affairs
International Affairs & Economics Double Major