In light of France’s loss in the Franco-Prussian war in 1871, Sciences Po was established in order to promote a new generation of French politicians. It’s now one of the most well-known schools in France. It’s not a university in the traditional sense, however. There isn’t a contiguous campus or a cafeteria. It’s also a school that specializes in the political sciences, so there aren’t many classes that expand outside the discipline. But the most significant difference between Sciences Po and other traditional universities, in France or elsewhere, is that Sciences Po isn’t a university but a Grande École. In other words, within the French educational system, which is rather hierarchical, the pinnacle of French education is not a university but a Grand École, which is a step higher. For the sake of accuracy I’m synthesizing some external sources in my definition of Grandes Écoles, which essentially are highly prestigious and selective institutions outside of the public university system. Because they’re intensely competitive and difficult to get into, Grande École graduates tend to dominate the top echelons of the political and business sectors in France. Sciences Po in particular has produced France’s last five successive presidents. Needless to say the classes are difficult, the expectations are high, and the students here are quite impressive.

Hard to pay attention in class when you’re learning in such a historical environment

I’m taking five courses, all of which so far have been some of the most interesting I’ve taken in college so far. My most demanding course is “The Sacred and the Profane: Critical Perspectives on Power, Ecstasy, and Violence” which is taught by a professor who used to work with UNESCO as an Enseignment (or educator). We’re currently diving into the works of sociologist Emile Durkheim, which is new territory for me academically, so it’s been relatively difficult for me so far to substantially contribute to class discussions. The class discussions as well are demanding in the sense that many students here are more familiar with classical texts and can provide compelling philosophical evidence even for the question or answers they propose in class. It’s been tough, but I’ve been enjoying the challenge—it’s certainly what Sciences Po is known for.

Hard to believe this is classroom!

One of the other exciting parts about studying abroad is assimilating into a new social culture, and the best way to do this is to join a club. I’ve joined the “Refugee Help” association as well as “Stop and Go,” Sciences Po’s very own hitchhiking club. I wanted to get involved with the humanitarian side of politics and thought an association that is dedicated to doing exactly that would be a good choice to both meet French students and also dedicate my extra time to serving a cause the needs all the help it can get. On a less serious note, the hitchhiking club is a lighthearted group of French people struck by wanderlust and who share in excursions all across Europe. I’m going on a hitchhiking trip next weekend across France, so we’ll see how that goes. They’re two entirely different clubs but, experientially, will make my time studying abroad here all the more interesting.

À plus tard,

Jess

Now that orientation is over, and I’ve been settled with my host family for over a week, I want to talk about studying abroad and the inevitable adjustment process. Before coming to France I only spoke as much French as I had managed to cram over the summer. Although many people in Europe speak English as their second, third, or even fourth language (and I met some Europeans who know a fifth one), the French are notoriously picky about language competency. Granted, this is a stereotype, but the French are rightfully proud of being a historically significant contributor to the world in art, gastronomy, and language and have the cultural organizations to ensure that the ‘French’ way is respected. So I made sure that upon arriving in Paris I would, at the least, have a basic grasp on, well, the basics.

Inevitably, adjusting to a new language is difficult, and I’ve messed up quite a few times. One of my most embarrassing moments, admittedly, occurred when I tried to talk about the former President of Vichy France, Philippe Petain, and mispronounced his last name. I won’t be too explicit, but I, essentially, had renamed the man “President *expletive*,” about which it took everything in my host mom not to burst out laughing.

Although it was easy enough to laugh off my mistake, it took a while longer to navigate and grow accustom to other cultural shifts. The French don’t generally make small talk with strangers. This also means that smiling at strangers or saying “hi” to them in passing is bizarre. As someone who loves to smile I’ve garnered some unwanted attention being a bit too ‘smiley’ on the streets of Paris. But on the other hand, when French people engage in conversation with you they do it not out of a sense of obligation to be nice but because they genuinely want to. So there isn’t much doubt when a French person offers to help you that they sincerely would like to help. If I walk into a store or go to a restaurant there isn’t always someone readily and eagerly waiting to assist me, but there is certainly help if I ask. There’s a more pronounced sense of independence or ‘laissez-faire-ness’ here that is difficult to articulate, but it starkly contrasts with the bustle of American overt-friendliness.

This is one of my favorite aspects of the French culture, however—most don’t feel an obligation to make small talk and, consequently, respect each other’s solitude. The metro is almost always silent. Interestingly though, most aren’t looking down at their phones, like many would in the States (because there is a sense of awkwardness for Americans when we don’t have something with which to occupy ourselves). Most are reading a book or staring off into space. In cafes, people generally sit on the terrace and eat by themselves while people-watching. This isn’t to say that French culture is aloof or intensely introverted, but silence and solitude is acceptable, and there isn’t a cultural necessitation that people have to be doing something lest they look awkward. Human interaction is still important, there’s no doubt about that, but it’s conducted with a different purpose in different settings than what I’m used to in the United States. As someone who enjoys her solitude eating alone at restaurants or going solo to a movie, often to the curiosity of American onlookers in the States, I feel right at home slipping into this aspect of French culture.

I start my first day of school tomorrow, and I’m excited for the new people, events, and expectations looming on the horizon. During orientation we were given instruction on how to acclimate to the French methodology of writing, which is notoriously strict and systematic. So aside from acclimating to a new school and student body, I have to acclimate to a new system of education as well. Next week I will be sure to talk a bit more about the ‘French’ way of all things academia and the five classes I plan on taking for the rest of the semester.

À la prochaine,

Jess

P.S. I’ve done a bit of exploring around Paris, so here are some photos. More to come!

It’s quite hard to imagine a city that is as easy to fall in love with as Paris. Every street corner has a musician, every boulevard is peppered with bakeries, and the very ground you walk on is historical. The river Seine weaves itself throughout the city and, today, I find myself dangling my feet at its elevated edge. Along this part of the canal-way there are wide ledges where Parisians and tourists alike come for leisure. I have my journal with me, as I often do, and feel compelled to reflect on these past few days. I sit under the shade of a willow tree and, in the warmth of a setting sun, I begin to catalog my time in France so far.

The first day I arrived in Paris I stayed in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, where I met with a friend who currently studies at Sciences Po. SGL is not only in the outskirts of Paris where the views are panoramic but it also is in one of Paris’ most beautiful and historical parts. We walked through a large garden next to an even larger castle that used to house the royal family before Versailles was built. Every facet of the chateau had been restored to its original state—the gargoyles, the Gothic-inspired ornamentation of the facade, the exactly trimmed square hedges in the garden and the perfectly spread beige gravel. This attention to detail is not uncommon in the rest of Paris. I came to discover in the next few days that the entire city is just as architecturally ornate. It was Day 1 and I was already awestruck.

Orientation began the next day, and it felt like freshman year all over again—in a good way! Although I got lost going in the wrong direction on the metro, I made it to school and, fortunately, was given a tour and a map to help orient myself to the area. In my orientation group, China, South Korea, Sweden, Brazil, the US, and Singapore were all represented, which made for a melting pot of cultural diversity and ever-more interesting conversation topics. We were then funneled into a massive auditorium, which I later learned is a lecture hall. Coming from a school with an average class size of sixteen people, a classroom of that size is a bit alien to me. The director of the university, Frederic Mion, was in attendance and gave a speech about the many paths we might find ourselves traversing this next year or semester of our lives and the richness they bring to our sense of identity as citizens and academics of the world. And just as my orientation facilitated for me at University of Richmond, I felt like I had found a new home at Sciences Po.

It’s the weekend now, and I’ve moved into my housing arrangement for the semester. I’m living with a lovely host family in Montmartre, and they are thankfully patient with my limited French. I chose to live with a host family because I wanted an immersion experience. It also helps curb the homesickness to be in a home with a mom who cooks wonderful French food. They live right next to the Basilique du Sacre-Coeur or the Sacred Heart Church as us Anglophones know it. The church is constructed of limestone, which is said to have an effervescent glow after it rains. Needless to say, this area is beautiful, the church down the road is ethereal, and I’m pretty ecstatic about spending the next four months with a wonderful family.

I still have a few days of orientation left, so my next update will include some more tidbits about acclimating to French life as I’m introduced to all its Parisian nooks and crannies.

à bientôt,

Jessica