France: Pau - French Language and European Studies

Studying abroad in Pau, France was an unforgettable experience! Not only did my French language skills such as comprehension, pronunciation, articulation, and writing improve immensely, but my knowledge of the culture increased exceptionally. Pau is the perfect choice for anyone wanting to increase their language skills and also have an authentic French experience. You have the opportunity to learn in a classroom setting with amazing, dedicated professors, and also immerse yourself in the culture with program-led excursions and activities on campus and downtown. Pau is wonderfully located with some of the most popular French cities close by and the Pyrenees Mountains are only a bus ride away. This was not just an academic experience either as I discovered a lot about myself and grew my independence and problem-solving skills. I was able to travel all over with new people I met to see amazing sights and places and experience more than just one new culture. I met so many wonderful people, students, and locals, who helped create the best experience! I will always remember the memories I made and the people I met. I encourage anyone who has the opportunity to study abroad to take it. You will gain a whole new perspective on life and a whole new confidence in yourself academically and personally.

This program was truly unique in the way it immersed me as a student in a small town in the south of France. Not only did I get to study at a French university and live with a local family I had many opportunities to travel around France and learn more about Europe in general. The classes significantly improved my French proficiency and extra curricular classes made it possible to make friends. It would not be possible to achieve the same level of immersion without being a citizen of the country and I am truly thankful for the opportunity.

I loved being in France. I met many people that I still am in contact with. I loved getting to experience the culture, travel around the country, and learn the language. I went to Pau to study Forestry in France. The excursions to nearby areas were always very enjoyable. We tried amazing food, saw awe-inspiring sights, and met people I don't think I could have met anywhere else. The local sights, sounds, and senses left me with a deep feeling of desire to experience them again. After the program, I had the opportunity to do some solo exploring through France and Ireland.

I have known I wanted to study abroad since the moment I started searching for colleges. French had become a very integral part of my life, and I knew that at some point to get better I would have to study abroad and immerse myself in French life and culture. And I am so glad I decided to do that with the program in Pau, France. Pau is not a huge city, but I find that to be an advantage. The downtown isn't always crowded and you can really feel like you are a part of the culture rather than just a tourist passing through. One of my favorite experiences so far has been attending Carnaval, a celebration of Béarnais culture that I truly got to participate in. The program staff has been absolutely wonderful, and attending classes at the university has become a habit that I will miss. I feel like I am getting the most out of my time abroad and that is a fabulous feeling.

I am so glad I found USAC when I did. Their summer session in Pau felt tailor-made to everything I wanted in a study abroad experience. Most aspects of the program were up to the individual (housing, length of study, excursions, classes, etc) which makes me confident that there is an option for everybody. I was able to customize my experience to what suited me best, while maintaining the structure and organization provided by the USAC staff. This program was the perfect combination of learning, exploring, and having fun, and I can't recommend it enough!

My summer spent in Pau was truly unforgettable! I made amazing friends, got to practice my French, immersed myself in French culture, and spent the afternoons strolling down boulevards with spectacular views of the castle. We explored the region in many of my classes, and Pau offered easy access to transportation to set out on adventures of our own. It has all the charm of a small town, while still offering plenty of larger city amenities. There's lots of fun dining options, theaters, parks, museums, and shops, as well as gorgeous views of the Pyrenees Mountains. Studying abroad certainly calls for its fair share of going out of your comfort zone, but my professors, the administrators, and my friends were a great support system along the way. Despite some culture differences, Pau felt safe to be out and about, even at night. I’m so excited to bring my friends and family back to Pau one day!

I absolutely adored my time abroad with USAC! I studied abroad in Fall 2022 in Pau, France where I took French language classes to improve my French. I embraced a new passion for the French language through the devotion of my international classmates and French teachers. In addition, I immersed myself in the French culture by taking various opportunities offered by the program to interact with the community. I excelled in meeting new people, learning new ideas, and seeing new cultures. My experience abroad has made me confident enough to move to France permanently!

You know that pull to grow. It's uncomfortable and scary and exhilarating. You start to feel it as soon as the thought comes into your head-- what if I said yes? Yes to attending an event where you don't know anyone well. Yes to applying for a job that you really want. Yes to jumping off a bridge into water. Yes to ANYTHING where you risk to fall or fail. I applied to many USAC programs before France. It was during the pandemic, so I fell and failed every time. A year passed and I was about to give up on my dream of studying abroad. But then I looked at the France program and I felt a pull. I had studied Spanish, not French. And now I was about to graduate. It didn't make any sense. But what if I tried one more time... When I received the admission notification, I said yes.

Two semesters as part of this program changed me more than the past four years of university ever had. There is no equivalent in terms of cultural, social, emotional, and intellectual growth to being plunged into a foreign country. You simply have no choice but to grow into the enormous space that has opened up around you full of new sights and sounds and smells that you never could have imagined. There is nothing familiar around you to make you feel safe. But there is also nothing familiar around you to tell you who you are or what you are capable of. This is the potential of freedom. You can be who you have always been scared to be because there are no longer any limits. You can say yes to everything. Yes to speaking a language you're not fluent in. Yes to activities and course subjects you never would have tried before. Yes to field trips to cities you've never heard of. Yes to starting conversations, yes to being confident in the face of the fear.

Of course this is not to say that you really are alone. The Pau, France program is impressively supportive. The on-site staff are kind and deeply invested in the personal development of each student who comes. You will never feel unsafe or unsure of what to do next. But the experience is yours, and whether you want to focus on the culture and language of france, the bonds of new and profound friendships with interesting people from all backgrounds, or your own growth as a competent and open-minded traveler and observer of the world, you will walk away from this program with all three. The world is waiting. Oh, and don't forget to bring good walking shoes.