CEA CAPA Education Abroad in Paris, France

Thanks to CEA, I had by far the best study abroad I could have possibly had in Paris. Their orientation well prepared me for life in a foreign country and was well tailored to the needs and desires of a college student. The academics were excellent and were clearly the focus of the program, but weren't so overwhelming that I felt like I didn't have time to explore my interests in the city. The weekly "outings" helped me get to know history about the city I wouldn't have learned otherwise, as well as let me get to know different CEA staff members who all offered different advice and life experiences which will ultimately help inform my own future career and travel choices. CEA also gave me a community in a foreign country that I couldn't have found elsewhere, because they connected me to other American students that had similar interests to my own. Finally, CEA managed to create a perceived bubble of safety in a country that has been deeply affected by terrorism.
I wish I could share a story to help show just how life changing this experience was for me, but how do you share a story when what you most fell in love with was daily Parisian life? It was thrilling to become accustomed to walking through the streets of Paris to class every morning surrounded by other French speaking individuals (amazing to me as I've studied French for years and have never been able to immerse myself so much into it). I fell in love with spending time people watching at Jardin du Luxembourg, or the steps of Sacre Coeur, or walking along the Seine. I will always cherish memories of picnicking with friends in front of the Eiffel Tower, enjoying each others company and laughing about the antics of tourists vs. locals. It's likely I would have had an amazing time in this city no matter which program I decided to go through, but after the two months I had, it would be impossible not to recommend CEA to fellow world travelers.

My absolute favorite day in Paris happened almost by chance. A friend and I had planned to go to the Museé d'Orsay after class but it was closed when we got there. Until we figured out something else to do, we decided to stroll around Les Jardins Tuileries which is right across the Seine. We walked around for a little while and then sat down on a bench in front of some statues and simply watched people. We made up stories about who they were and what they might be saying. We walked around a little while longer and then decided to go to Montemartre and explore around the famous streets that inspired various artists and writers such as Hemingway and Fitzgerald. We took the metro and ended up having to climb about five flights of stairs in this beautifully painted winding stairwell to get to the street. At the top, it opened up to a little square with vendors and stands, many of which selling food. So, as any other Parisian would do, we ordered crêpes and continued our journey. At the top of Montemartre is the very famous Sacre Cœur and we decided to walk the many many stairs to get to it. Once there, we admired the astonishing view that looks out over the entire city of Paris. We took a quick tour inside and decided to wander around the streets of Montemartre. We stumbled upon some incredible art galleries with stone walls, beautiful paintings, and with old French jazz music playing in the background. We talked with some of the owners in French and to be able to have such an experience made my heart melt. I am so thankful for the opportunity to have gone abroad and to have done so with such a great program as CEA. So study abroad! You won't regret it. E

I was a part of the CEA program in Paris of fall 2015. I had an unbelievably great time meeting new people, exploring an amazing city, and learning about life abroad. Being outside of the United States at such a sensitive time politically provided a truly valuable learning experience and gave me access to a unique perspective of viewing my country and my culture from the outside. The other participants in CEA were all extraordinarily interesting, and each and everyone of them challenged me to grow in different ways: intellectually, socially, and personally.
The CEA office is outstanding. The staff is genuine and sincere, and they are constantly on the look out to make sure you are safe while still granting you the freedom that makes study abroad so liberating. Weekend trips with friends were an amazing bonus of being in Europe, and during my time in Paris I was able to take trips to Munich, Cologne, Madrid, Barcelona, and London.
Paris is an expensive city to live in, so just be aware that while the program is reasonably priced as far as study abroad programs go, you will be responsible for ALL metro (60 euros a month), food, and recreational costs (with the exception of a few excursions).
The part I was most disappointed in was the academic aspect. I participated in the ICP (Institut Catholique de Paris) program in which my classes were exclusively in french. While I did love my professor and classes, I felt as though CEA itself did not adequately encourage french immersion or integration into french society. This is probably because many students there didn't speak much french and didn't consider language acquisition a main goal of theirs, but just be wary that if you are truly aiming to perfect your french to the maximum possible extent in 4 months, this might not be the program for you.
All in all, I had an amazing experience with CEA. Only word of warning to kids who are truly looking to maximize their french exposure: rent an apartment on your own and enroll independently in a french university, you'll learn more!

November 13th, 2015 is a day I will never forget. After I heard about the terrorist attacks that targeted numerous locations, many thoughts, including well wishes for victims families, ran through my mind: was it still safe to study abroad there? What precautions would be taken for students abroad? Both my parents and I were extremely anxious during the months leading up to my semester abroad. Before departure, CEA offered potential city relocations for students, as well as much reassurance that they would do everything they could to keep us safe in the upcoming semester. And that they did. They have implemented a survey system in which each student responds with their weekend plans and phone number so should there be an emergency, the staff knows their whereabouts. There is also an emergency number that students may call at any point during their semester. All in all, this was a stressful time on my parents, but CEA's staff made it that much easier on all of us. It is also pretty gratifying to know that I am a part of French history that will never be forgotten.

My semester in Paris was one of my favorite experiences of my undergrad career. I decided to study abroad in Paris on my own and was very surprised by the wonderful friends I made during my time at CEA Paris. When I think about my semester abroad, most memories that come to mind involve those friends. We traveled together to Amsterdam, Rome, and all over France. We visited sites and places like the Anne Frank House, the Colosseum, and a couple vineyards too! We also had our own Thanksgiving celebration at my apartment in Paris where we invited all our friends and made different cultural dishes to celebrate being in Paris together and being each other's "family" for the semester. It was one of the most memorable nights I had in Paris and I'm really thankful for all the great friendships I made when I lived in Paris. :)

People always warn you about the nerves and sadness you feel before you get to your study abroad destination, but they never tell you how you'll feel when you have to return home. That emotion is so hard to comprehend, especially after you fall in love with a city, people, and a study abroad program.

Overall, CEA Study Abroad allowed me to challenge myself and honestly just grow as a person. I became more independent and found new passions in art and politics while also getting to explore old ones in things like travel and exploration. The program even allowed me to shape what I want to study based on the people I had met and the conversations we had had. I can honestly say that after studying abroad, I can't imagine where I'd be right now without those memories, experiences, and friendships. the entire experience is truly inspiring and has driven me to do things at my home university that I could never have imagined doing. CEA was such a great program that had the best staff, and the greatest mix of students that come from all over the country. I would highly recommend CEA to other students especially after seeing all the program has done for me. I am 100% ready to return to Paris and plan on doing so after I graduate from school. Basically, thank you CEA for giving me some of the best moments of my life!

Studying abroad in Paris through CEA was probably one of the best semesters of my college career.

I loved CEA because it is more than just taking the same old classes in a different location. Every class I took had some sort of relationship to French culture, whether it was a History of Fashion in Paris class or Oenology where we learned about the different wine regions of France (and of course got to taste them all too!). I never felt like I was stuck inside studying on a beautiful day in Paris. Most of the classes I took had excursions as part of the curriculum, so I was constantly exploring new parts of the city. Through the Liberal arts and Social Sciences program, there are never classes on Fridays so I had an extra day to travel during my weekends exploring Europe.

The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. I still keep in touch with them today! They are very knowledgeable about the city as well as problems that a lot of students go through when living in a foreign country.

Upon deciding to study abroad, I constantly wondered what the living situations would be like, what the difficulty of the classes were like, how I would adjust to being in a foreign country, and how I would manage without knowing very much French. Luckily, the staff at CEA really helped me with my pre departure process and were able to answer ALL the questions that I had (and there were many).
Once in Paris, CEA prepped all their students during the first week after arrival. They shared a lot of advice and gave us do's and don'ts so we knew what to expect while being abroad. Until the very last day of my program, I remembered every little detail of information they shared with us because it was so helpful.
I opted for a shared apartment and it exceeded all expectations I had. The apartment was more spacious than I was expecting it to be. Although I should have packed lighter for my time abroad, we were still provided plenty of space for all of our belongings.
Classes are typically Monday through Thursday, which gives you enough time to take weekend trips to other cities like Barcelona, London, and Rome! Weekend travel trips were always very exciting! One of my favorite parts of my semester abroad was traveling with the group of girls that I met through my program. We got to experience different cities, cultures, and foods together. The excursions that the program offers were fun and it was nice to use that opportunity to get to know other people in my program!
I never envisioned that I would want to live anywhere except for Los Angeles, but studying abroad has definitely encouraged me to think globally, not locally! Sounds cheesy, but it's true. CEA challenged me in so many ways and I can't wait to see what the future has in store for me!