AIFS Abroad in Cannes, France: Semester

Why did you decide to study abroad with AIFS in Cannes, France?

Carrina: Honestly, I did not do as much research about the different study abroad programs that I thought I would. I went to a study abroad fair held at USC my freshman year, and one of the tables set up was AIFS. I knew I wanted to go to France because I had taken French since high school and was continuing learning French in college.

I looked through the AIFS booklet describing all of the programs offered, and I looked at the Cannes, France section. The AIFS representative told me that students who attend that program have opportunities to attend the Cannes Film Festival and experience it in a bunch of different ways (seeing movies, internships, attending a premier!). After hearing this, I was so excited about this possibility that I didn’t really look into any other programs. The following semester, I started the application process into the AIFS Cannes, France program.

How has this experience impacted your future?

Carrina: As cliché as it sounds, studying abroad changed my life. I completely let go of the anxieties I had at USC and was able to immerse myself into my study abroad experience. I was so out of my comfort zone that there is literally nothing to lose by trying new things. The practice using the French language I got in the classroom and outside of the classroom has been so beneficial to me in my classes that I am taking now. I continue to recall grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation that I learned while abroad. Using the language with native speakers really is the best way to improve your usage of a language.

Although this experience helped me academically, it helped me so much personally. I became more confident with myself, and I felt independent. I think studying abroad and learning about other cultures and languages helps you learn about yourself, your own culture, and your own language as well.

Tell us about an experience you had that you could not have had at home.

Carrina: Experiencing the Cannes Film Festival is something I will never forget. Every year, Cannes hosts the Cannes Film Festival for two weeks in May (and now when I see it on the news every year, I will get to remember my time there!). I got to see Cannes change from a small Mediterranean city into a huge tourist attraction. I received a pass that would allow me to get into some of the movies. The pass was helpful, but not a guarantee. I had to wait in line for a couple of hours sometimes to be sure of getting in, but it was always worth it!

The most exciting event was getting to walk the red carpet for three different movie premiers! I wore a fancy dress and was able to walk the red carpet before all of the celebrities arrived and watched the movie at its premier. It was the whole reason I went to Cannes at first, and it was a once in a lifetime experience.

Describe your favorite must-have food that you tried abroad.

Carrina: I had already tried gyros before I went abroad, but I went to Greece for spring break, and they are delicious there! One new food that I tried for the first time while abroad was foie-gras (liver). I forced myself to try it and get past the psychological barrier I had because of cultural differences because it is such a delicacy in France. It was a small portion on top of a salad I ate at the farewell dinner before returning to the US. I have to say, I can understand now why they enjoy it so much.

Tell us about any interesting cultural tidbits you noticed about your country.

Carrina: The biggest thing I noticed was that the French are not rude. In fact, they are polite (for example, it is considered rude if you do not greet and say goodbye to store employees); I found them to be very nice and understanding. They also tend to switch to English if they hear you are a foreigner out of politeness. The French also like to enjoy their meals. I ate lunch and dinner in a cafeteria at the school, and it was a three course meal every day.

If you could do-over one thing, what would it be?

Carrina: I would have liked to speak more French on campus and even out in public. It is very easy to speak English with everyone. At the college, it is an international school, and even though it is a French language school, English was usually the common language, so most people spoke English when they were not in classes. In public, the locals would speak to you in French off the bat or switch to French, and it is tempting to just continue speaking in French (especially if you are out in town with other Americans from your group). I would have liked to meet more locals and experience the language and culture through them. I started to try and do more of this towards the end of my trip, but I wish I had done it the whole time!

Let’s start with a brief introduction. What is your position at AIFS and what has been your career path so far?

Paul Watson: My position is Senior Vice President and Executive Director of AIFS Study Abroad. I have been in this position for almost six years. Prior to coming to AIFS for 18 years I was Director of Enrollment Management at the Institute for Shipboard Education, which operates the Semester at Sea program. I began my career working at the University of Pittsburgh in Student Registration and Financial Services. So, my career has been exclusively in higher education, and obviously international education/study abroad.

Did you study abroad? If so, where and what impact did this have on your personal and/or professional development?

Paul: I did. I studied abroad for a year in Kobe, Japan. It had a profound impact on my personal and professional development. It was no doubt the most academically rewarding experience of my undergraduate education, and it led me to ultimately choose international higher education as a career. I went there to study Japanese language and business, thinking it would lead to me to international banking or business of some kind, but I quickly realized how much I enjoyed being involved in higher education.

AIFS was founded in 1964 making it one of the oldest study abroad organizations in the world. How has AIFS evolved from its early beginnings and how do you stay relevant in an increasingly competitive industry?

Paul: Having only been part of AIFS for a short period in its history I have not witnessed first hand its evolution. However, I think the organization first and foremost has stayed true to its core principles: To offer the highest quality academic and experiential programs, proving students with everything they need in order to maximize the learning opportunity that study abroad affords. AIFS has continued to offer strong programming in the traditional study abroad destinations, while at the same time have expanded program offerings to meet the needs of students looking to opportunities outside the more traditional locations. I believe we have sought to meet the changing needs of our partner institutions in the US who are very involved in the administration of study abroad on their respective campuses.

At Go Overseas we’re all about reviews. On what basis do you think study abroad programs should be assessed to properly reflect their overall value?

Paul: Not an easy question. There are many things that can be considered. Being tried and true – having a long history of successful delivery of study abroad programming, should be considered. Wide acceptance by colleges and universities is a factor as well. AIFS has over 300 affiliated institutions and additionally receive students from many more schools. The reputation of an organizations partners abroad and the quality of the programs offered are important. Experience and level of service provided by on site staff (Resident Directors) is key. Student satisfaction; parent satisfaction; What is included in the program/fee are valid metrics. Price can be misleading. A lower priced program may not actually turn out to be a lower cost program for the student depending on what out of pocket expenses they have to incur. The level and quality of support that is provided to students applying to and preparing for study abroad is a factor as well.

What do students look for in a study abroad program these days and how does AIFS address these needs?

Paul: Students have diverse interests and needs and not all are looking for the same thing. We focus on high quality academic experiences; all inclusive programming; high level student/customer support; health and safety.

How many students does AIFS send abroad each year? Which destination is the most popular?

Paul: Upwards of 5000 including our customized, faculty-led programming. Europe continues to draw the most with Italy and the UK attracting larger groups than other destinations. However, programs in Russia, Czech Republic, South Africa and India, among others, which offer something a little different, are growing as well.

What does the future hold for AIFS?

Paul: We will continue to look for new opportunities destinations and academic programming that help to draw students from diverse interests and majors to study abroad. Hopefully study abroad will continue to grow. It remains the exception rather than the norm with only a small percentage of students deciding to include a study abroad experience as a part of their undergraduate education. In an increasingly interdependent world, students need to have the skills to thrive in a global environment. Study abroad is one way to help develop those skills.

Famous last words?

Paul: Not mine, but attributed to Mark Twain. As I said above, study abroad is one of the things that many students intend to do but for myriad reasons most ultimately do not.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.

In my view, there will never be a better time for a young person to experience the world, and study abroad will have a lasting and often life-changing impact.