Dior Museum Paris

Author: Avery Besson | Major: International Business Finance | Semester: Fall 2022

I am attending the American Business School of Paris this Fall semester through the International Studies Abroad (ISA) Program. I am majoring in International Business Finance, which requires a foreign language and a study abroad requirement. I have been learning French from a young age, so I chose it as my language and decided to study in Paris, France. I selected the American Business School of Paris because it is part of Institut de Gestion Social, a non-profit higher education institution composed of 14 schools. This institution has allowed me to meet local students from other colleges that share the campus. While my school aims toward American students, most of my classmates are from Europe, Africa, and Asia. Having numerous international students in my classes has been fascinating because it allows me to adapt to a culturally diverse atmosphere while learning about other countries from first-hand experience.

I am enrolled in International Marketing, Advanced French, International Economics, and Corporate Finance. My classes are more project-focused than test-based, so when assigned to groups, our teachers will mix us with students from different countries. I appreciate this learning style because when I work for a company in the future, we will collaborate in teams, and being able to adapt to other people’s working types, especially international students, will be beneficial in the long-term aspect. Although I’ve only had three weeks of school, I’ve learned that communicating with students from other countries can be tricky when dealing with language barriers and understanding their viewpoints. However, collaborating to accommodate these differences allows us to grow and learn from each other. My professors vary by course; some are from America, and others are from different European countries. I am learning all of my classes in English, except Advanced French, and though my international professors have accents, I don’t find it challenging to learn. My goals for this semester include becoming fluent in French, submerging in European culture, and being successful in my classes. I believe the American Business School of Paris will provide me the opportunity to flourish through the courses, students, and resources.

Through the ISA program, we had the opportunity to travel to Loire Valley, where we visited three castles and a vineyard. We visited Château de Chambord, Château d’Amboise, and my favorite Château de Chenonceau. Each citadel was unique; Chambord being the largest, Amboise being on the top of a mountain, and Chenonceau spanning across a river. Between visiting the castles, we stopped at a vineyard called Plou et Fils, a local family business, and learned about the production of wine and champagne. Following our vineyard tour, we had a wine tasting consisting of 12 different types of wine. That night we stopped in the city of Tours, the former capital of France at several points in history. Here we explored the town, which had a lively square, and tried Loire Cheeses. France is well known for its large variety of cheeses, and every region has unique cheeses that they specialize in. To prove their authenticity, they are verified by the labels AOC and AOP. AOC stands for “Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée,” which guarantees that the product is made from a specific region and made following the particular rules of tradition and craftsmanship. AOP stands for “Appellation d’Origine Protégée,” which replaces the AOC label when spread across Europe; however, the product must be labeled AOC first. Learning about the history and traditions still intact to this day proves the strength of French culture and helps me understand the country from an in-depth, first-hand perspective.

Studying abroad is a fantastic experience, and I recommend it to every student interested in attaining an international education. Whether you are abroad for six weeks to a year, you will make unforgettable memories and grow both in maturity and culturally. If there is any advice that I could give to a student studying abroad, it would be to travel as much as possible. Before I travel, I research the country or location I am visiting to learn about the cultural differences, etiquette, and essential words in the language of the country I am sojourning in, so I can ensure that I am respectful and mindful. Studying abroad has been remarkable, and I look forward to sharing more of my experience in the next few months.