Gaby's Study Abroad Reflection
Instead of flying from Nashville to New York this semester, I buckled up and jetted off to France. So, bonjour from my new home, Menton, the pearl of the French Riviera!
My name is Gaby Viner, and I am a junior at Barnard studying Comparative Literature and Translation Studies in French and English. I’m currently an exchange student at Sciences Po, a French research university, on the coast of the Mediterranean. It’s been about two months since I first embarked on my study abroad journey, and I have already grown into new places, routines, languages, friendships, and ways of being in the world. Here are a few study abroad (and life) tips I have learned so far:
Sometimes, the biggest shifts are the small changes. Preparing to study abroad, I knew that it would be a challenge to speak a foreign language, make new friends, and be far away from my family and my home at Barnard. Yet, funnily enough, one of the hardest parts of my transition to France was moving from Manhattan, a bustling metropolis, to Menton, a little beach town. As a Barnard student, I wake up each morning and encounter a city filled with people, activities, options, and choice. The fervor and energy of New York is my norm. In stark contrast, the south of France, particularly in the winter months, is quiet, slow, and peaceful. Though it seems silly that Manhattan to Menton would be such a shock to the system, I had a lot to learn about small town living when I first arrived in January. Now, two months in, I am enjoying the tranquility. I have found sweetness in the slowness of being in a quieter place and have learned that there is beauty in both ways of life.
Studying abroad is a reminder that there is immense possibility in exploring new opportunities. Being a part of Raw Elementz, a Columbia hip hop team, dancing was a piece of my Barnard life that I missed at the beginning of my exchange. I craved the feeling of moving my body to music and began running along a path on the water. Though I still love dancing with my team, running has become my Menton equivalent and it is a great way for me to connect with myself and get out into the world. Simultaneously comforting and new, running has been a very rewarding and unexpected part of my study abroad experience. Another opportunity I have found in the south of France is the feasibility of cooking fresh meals. I love going to the daily market, picking out seasonal ingredients, and cooking fun dinners to enjoy with friends. Cooking has given me the chance to practice my French when catching up with my favorite vendors, explore the flavors of Menton, and cultivate my own culinary prowess! Breaking out of your everyday routines creates space for new hobbies and passions!
Yet, sometimes being in a completely different setting is overwhelming. As a Comparative Literature and Translation Studies major, I take a majority of my classes in French at Barnard, but entering into the French track at Sciences Po was a big step up in terms of language. I work intentionally to use my French in everyday conversations and with friends, but it can be difficult to not always be able to eloquently, or even adequately, express your thoughts! At first, I was quiet in my classes, shy when ordering at restaurants, and quick to switch to English with my new French friends for fear of failure. I’ve learned that it is always better to put yourself out there, even in a foreign language. So, raise your hand in class, be confident, and give yourself enough grace to make mistakes. You cannot grow if you do not try, you will surprise yourself with your own ability, and you will be heard and understood!
People are excited to meet you! Attending a completely new university has been an amazing chance to make new friends. Through signing up for additional lecture series, partnering with peers around me for group projects in class, and introducing myself to everyone I meet, I have made some amazing new friends here in Menton. They have helped me navigate my time as an exchange student and a foreigner abroad. Thanks to my friends, I now understand the French grading system and know a few more slang phrases. I can tell you the calmest spot to sit by the Mediterranean and the prettiest place to hike as well as the very best boulangerie to grab a cappuccino and a pain au chocolat à l’amande. How wonderful it is to enter a totally foreign setting and find that you can make it your own! My time here has only just begun, but I am already looking forward to having friends from this semester for years to come.
Being at Sciences Po and in France, I have found new ways of living: being in a beach town, finding new hobbies, speaking confidently in a foreign language, and making new friends to support me. I also have learned to cherish my support systems. Facetiming my parents and my siblings, texting my friends, and staying in touch with my Barnard advisor have allowed me to feel supported from afar. I am lucky to have such a strong foundation from which to grow and explore.
Studying abroad is filled with dichotomies: learning big and small things, speaking French and English, missing old friends and meeting new ones, embracing the vastness of the world and leaning back on your support systems. An openness and excitement about the challenge and the newness of being away is essential. I have lots more to learn and explore, but I look forward to bringing this gained knowledge of my coursework, travels, and self back to Barnard. When I meet up with Raw Elementz, sit in Barnard seminars, catch up with professors in office hours, and chat in Milstein with friends next year, I will bring these experiences with me. I can’t wait for all that’s to come!
Merci et à bientôt!
