Touching down in Charles De Gaulle airport, surrounded by fellow Choaties, is a surreal experience. From the first moments in France, I knew that this would be an unusual voyage. I did not know what to expect, but I have to admit that by the time the plane was heading back to the United States, I was glad I had gone term abroad.

I suppose the first thing everyone is curious about is the family I stayed with. For about two months, I lived with an older, single woman with adult children who lived elsewhere. At first, it was a bit strange to be alone in a Paris apartment with a lady who was now my “French Mom,” but by dinnertime, I felt at ease. Patient and helpful, Madame Vaille was always there to help with vocabulary questions and the like. Together we would watch the news, and she would always ask if I understood what was going on. In addition, she cooked delicious French food. The great part about living with a family is the amount of native language speaking you do. One can practice French all through dinner... and I usually did. And of course the friendship you make with your family is one that will last to any subsequent visits to the country, which is truly a great thing.

Term abroad programs have the reputation for being laughably easy when it comes to academics. However, the program in France is surprisingly rigorous, with five and a half days of classes a week and enough homework to keep you occupied. Each day at 9:00 we arrived at “Le Centre Sevre,” where Choate rents a classroom for the term abroad students. There, we were all taught together for three hours, with classes ranging from Art History to Twentieth Century French Literature. The teachers were excellent, and though the classes were conducted entirely in French, within the second week I knew what was going on. After the first three hours, the group would have a two - hour break for lunch. There are a great number of places to get lunch in the area around the school. One can partake in anything from classic French café fare to Lebanese sandwiches.

In the afternoons we would meet at one of Paris’ many museums to enjoy the estimable feast of France’s fine art. Our Art History teacher would lead us around, circumnavigating the tourist routes and providing incites into the paintings on display. In addition to taking class in the classroom and in museums, each student was required to work on an individual project. This free form assignment allowed us to explore Paris and learn about a specific area of interest. My project dealt with homelessness in Paris, and my daily research led me sometimes to alleys and subways. I met many different kinds of people, spoke French, and learned about a life I has known nothing about. The stories I heard have taught me a lot about what you can learn when you travel and explore. The trip to France was truly one of great exploration as well as extensive learning. I am very glad I had the opportunity to go abroad this winter.