Off to the City of Lights!

In exactly 2 hours I will be headed to LAX, and in 7 hours I will be headed off to Paris, France! Leave it up to me to be typing something last minute! I wanted to write my predeparture post just before I left, because it is finally starting to sink in that I'll be studying abroad for a whole year. I will be studying in Paris for my Fall semester through IES Abroad and then I will be studying in Tokyo for my Spring 2020 semester through a partnered university.

I have chosen to study abroad in Paris to focus on my interest in fashion photography and to learn French! I believe immersing myself in settings where everyone speaks the language would assist me in mastering French. I have always been captivated by Parisian/French culture, and I knew that I had to study abroad in Paris! I will be living with a host family for the next few months, and I am beyond excited to meet them. I will be staying with my host parents and their son who is 20 years old and loves fashion! I really hope we all get along, and that I can learn a lot from them.

My friends and family keep asking me how I feel about leaving home for so long, and right now I honestly feel completely overwhelmed with emotions. I am excited, nervous, and grateful. I have been abroad before in Spain, Mexico, and Japan, but the longest time I have been away from home was 1 month. I have worked so hard for this and I can’t believe I am finally studying abroad!! The IES Abroad Paris Business program is best for me because this program offers marketing, art, fashion and design, and French courses.

While I am abroad in both Paris and Tokyo, I plan to actively reach out to modeling agencies and fashion brands to work with signed models. I plan on building connections in the fashion and modeling industries, and I will focus on creating a portfolio of my work. Although most of my courses will be taught in English, I plan on enrolling in clubs, art and sport programs, and cooking classes. Another goal of mine while studying abroad is to make numerous French/ Parisian friends. I have heard amazing stories about Paris from professors, friends, my aunt, and my counselor, and I am ready to head out and create my own memories! Paris is often referred to as the City of Lights, the City of Love, and is one of the Fashion Capitals of the world! I can’t wait to find out from my own personal experiences why Paris has received these titles!