Au Revoir Columbia, Bonjour France

Hi! My name is Alyssa Vavra and I’m in France for a required study abroad because of my international business cohort. I’m currently studying at ESSEC Business School for both semesters in 2021. Since I've been here, I've enjoyed going to different places to see new things. My friends and I try different restaurants and see different areas of Paris. The food here has exceeded the high expectations that I had, I love getting lunch at the local Boulangeries, which is like a sandwich shop/bakery. One of the coolest things I've done so far is seeing lots of monuments around Paris. I wish I could see the inside, but unfortunately, many attractions are closed because of COVID. My classes here are similar to UofSC, I have ten classes (which is a lot). Some are half-semester classes, and some are completely online. The classes that meet are once a week either on zoom or in person. I go to 5 in-person classes a week. The teaching methods are nearly the same. Sometimes it's hard to be so far away, but my sisters back in Columbia are very important to me and I talk to them almost every day. They are so supportive and it’s fun showing them what my life is like abroad. There are so many little things I have learned while being here. Some of the big things revolve around food, such as dinner etiquette or when to drink certain wines during a meal. It’s really interesting seeing the differences in the French culture compared to the US. I can't wait to see what the rest of this experience has in store for me!

-Alyssa Vavra (PC 19)