Why did you pick this program?

I picked this program because it was highly recommended by my university. The more I explored this program online, I quickly concluded this would be the perfect program for me. I loved all the excursions it included along with ways to become involved within the city in which we reside while abroad.

What do you tell your friends who are thinking about going abroad?

I tell my friends that they NEED to embark on this experience. It is an opportunity of a lifetime where you truly are able to immerse yourself into an unfamiliar culture. By the end of the experience, you will not only know about the culture of the country you're visiting, but also you will learn about yourself and see your own personal growth.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

One piece of advice I would give would be to embark on every opportunity possible. Although, you may be tired by the end of the semester, it will all be worth it looking back at it. Also, I would suggest to travel in small groups rather than large ones. This way, you can strategically plan what you want to see and it is easier to satisfy everyone's interests when there are 3 people rather than 8 people.

What's your favorite story to tell about your time abroad?

I have two favorite stories, the first was especially appealing to me because I am a huge soccer fanatic. I have grown up playing my entire life and idolized the players such as Messi on FC Barcelona. It just so happened that FC Granada was playing FC Barcelona in Granada. It was during Semana Santa or Holy week so my parents were there to visit. We were able to get 8th row seats and see FC Granada beat FC Barcelona 1-0. It was incredible to see the underdogs take down such a powerhouse while also seeing the players I have watched growing up right in front of my eyes.

My second favorite story is when we went to Morocco, Africa and were able to ride camels. The path we rode the camels on was right next to the Atlantic Ocean and it was simply breath taking. We were able to ride on the full grown camels although, there were also newborn camels. They were the absolute cutest things in the world! I am extremely lucky to have experienced a different culture, along with being able to participate in such an unique excursion.

How was the homestay experience?

I absolutely adored my host family. I had a host mother and a host father who had three grown children that did not live in the house however, they would visit on the weekends. My host mom made the best food and it was always prepared right when I finished classes or came home from being with friends.

Every weekend, my host mom would clean my room and wash all of my laundry. At first, I felt strange allowing her to do this because I would complete these chores at my house on my own. However, she insisted that she could do it and truly loved putting others at ease and making them feel at home.

I was able to bond with my youngest host brother the most. He was the closest to my age and had studied abroad in England. This really helped because if I did not understand a word my host parents were trying to communicate, I could turn to him and he would help to explain it. He would also show my friends and I places to go around town when we first arrived so we knew the best restaurants, bars, and clubs.

I absolutely loved my homestay. They made me feel right at home and treated me as if I was their own daughter. I still keep in contact with my host mom to this day and it has been two years since I studied abroad. It was a perfect way to fully immerse myself in the culture and the language.

Did YOU study abroad?! If so, where and what inspired you to go?

Devon: In high school, I took four years of French and was crushed when I got a 2 on my AP exam. A 2! Not even enough for college credit. As I explained my frustration to my French teacher, Mme Stephenson, she reassured me that it was not the most important thing in life (but it sure did feel like it at the time!).

“What’s more important,” she asked me, “getting a 3 or actually speaking French and living abroad?” I kept her words with me through college, completed my Dance major and saved a fifth year of Global Studies courses to study abroad. I learned that Toulouse was a student town in the southwest part of France and on a recommendation, chose it as my destination!

That first year was one of the hardest years of my life – I was older than most students, was thinking about life after college (a career!), and as my AP score showed, my French was not stellar. But I pushed through, and here I am, 10 years later, living and working in Paris. I still make grammar mistakes and mix up the le and the la, but that’s okay, because what’s more important – right?

What was your favorite traveling experience?

Devon: Just last year, I traveled to Vietnam and Cambodia. I bought my guide book, did all the research, packed my 11-kilo backpack and off I went! I took a taxi to the hotel and as I stepped out onto the humid, bustling streets of Hanoi, I wondered what on EARTH I was doing there.

It was exactly how I’d felt my first day as a study abroad student in Toulouse, as I got settled into my dorm room and watched the French students walk down the halls. What was I doing here?! It’s good to be reminded of this feeling – you end up surprising yourself in the best way possible!

It was in Vietnam that I explored a dark cave, knee-deep in mud with only a head lamp. I hiked into the forest and slept on the floor in one of the villager’s homes, the cows mooing in their spot underneath the house on stilts. When I told our lovely host that I was from Paris, she just shrugged – she didn’t know where it was.

Being comfortable is nice and reassuring, but when you step out of that zone, you never know what you may find out about yourself, about others and about the world.

What language have you always wanted to learn and why​?

Devon: This may sound ridiculous, but I wish I could speak every language. Everywhere I go, I want to be able to speak with the locals, and I’m so frustrated when I cannot. Since learning French, I’ve experienced how much more of the world opens to you when you speak just a second language; imagine a third or a fourth!

When traveling to Barcelona, I didn’t speak Catalan or Spanish, and the hostel manager didn’t speak English, but thankfully, we had a common language – French. Without my one extra language, we would have been a bit stuck! The things you learn about people when you speak their language can be pretty incredible, hence my (crazy) wish to speak them all!

If I had to narrow it down to just one however, I would choose German. My first experience in Europe was in Germany when I was 15. I was limited to Danke, Bitte, Hallo, Gut, and my host parents didn’t speak a word of English. It made for quiet dinners, but motivation to learn the language of whatever country I was in.

Describe a time when you felt especially proud to be part of the CEA team.

Devon: This past January, when Paris was under terrorist attack, the CEA Paris team had to quickly, efficiently and calmly account for every student in the city. As the world watched the events unfold, CEA Paris staff and students experienced it all first hand.

Thanks to our international teams and our home office in Phoenix, Arizona, we were supported throughout the entire time. Our Health & Safety teams kept parents and universities informed while we worked to help students understand what was happening and how to keep themselves safe.

It’s hard to know how people will react in times of turmoil, and I feel grateful to be part of a team that could come together, put student safety first and support each other. Now our job is to integrate the January events into curriculum in class, building understanding and cultural awareness for students who are making Paris their home.