Like many Penn students, rising Sophomore Eleanor Armstrong is taking classes this summer. And visiting palace gardens. And going to Paris on the weekend. Did we mention that she’s taking summer classes in France?
Street: Heard you’re doing something cool this summer! What are you doing?
EA: I am currently taking part in the Penn language immersion program in Tours, France. So basically that means that for six weeks I'm living in France while taking classes (in French) with Penn professors at the local university. It's a really great program not just because the classes are interesting, but also because the program is designed to let you explore France as much as possible.
Street: Whoa. This sounds très intéressant! (That’s French, right?) So you’re not just taking classes?
EA: Besides class, there are basically no restrictions on where we have to go and what we have to do, which means people have a lot of opportunity to travel. On Thursday, I'm going to Paris for the third time on this trip, and I know a lot of people renting a house by the beach in La Rochelle. I've even heard of people going as far as Amsterdam, Spain, and Italy on their long weekends, even though I haven't made it quite so far! (Laughs)
Street: So it’s “studying abroad,” but with a little less emphasis on “studying.” Nice. What if you’re on a traveling budget, though?
EA: It’s no problem! Even if you don't feel like leaving Tours on your own, you go on a lot of day trips to other regions of France through the program. My favorite excursion was definitely the day at Versailles. The gardens are unbelievable.
Street: Where are you staying in Tours?
EA: Everyone in the program is placed with a French family for a six-week home stay experience. Another Penn student and I got placed in the home of a lady who usually runs a bed and breakfast. The food is absolutely amazing.
Street: Wow, you got lucky!
EA: Definitely. Before this program, I had always heard that the French tend to eat less, but my host mom definitely does not abide by this stereotype. Every night, my host mom serves at least four courses that are more often than not made completely from scratch. I really have no idea how I'll go back to college dining...
Street: Sorry, just drooled a little. Aside from the food, what do you like about the homestay experience?
EA: The homestay is great because it forces you to really interact in French on a daily basis. Basically everyone I've spoken to is really surprised at how well they're able to communicate with their host families regardless of their experience with the language. I almost made the slip up of telling my host mom "I'm pregnant" when I was trying to tell her I'd had enough to eat, but apart from that, communication has been surprisingly easy.
Street: What’s the coolest thing that’s happened to you so far?
EA: Hmmmm it's really hard to isolate one specific moment. I guess just the fact that I'm travelling to Paris for the third time in six weeks this weekend sounds pretty cool to me. My Paris trips have definitely taught that while hostel trips aren't exactly glamorous, they make for some hilarious stories.
Street: Such as?
EA: I got most of the touristy things done the first weekend I was in Paris, so the second basically consisted of me and a couple friends lounging around Paris, eating (a lot), and people watching. It might not sound like a lot, but people watching in Paris is amazing, especially in the Tuilerie gardens where a mangy pigeon unfortunately decided to poop on my arm.
Street: Ew!
EA: (Laughs) It was a minor slip up in a great day though, and my friends definitely enjoyed laughing at my expense.
Street: I would have, too. Would you recommend the program to other Penn students?
EA: I’d totally recommend it. You won’t often get an experience quite like this during the summer.