La Francophonie - Explore France Outside of France!

When one thinks of France, the first thing that comes to mind isn't usually palm trees, beaches, the Amazon rainforest or volcanoes. And yet, through the program TAPIF, I have been able to encounter all of these things, while living in France. How can that be? Thanks to France's DOM-TOMs (départements et territoires d'autres mer), I have been able to explore different aspects of the French culture which are often overlooked and, in my opinion, highly underappreciated - not to mention the absolutely breathtaking scenery and nature.

Currently in my second round of the program, I am living in the city of Maripasoula in French Guiana, where my school is located one street over from the entrance to the Parc Amazonien de Guyane. I also live along the Maroni River, which serves as the border with Suriname. My first TAPIF experience was in 2013-2014 on the island of Réunion, in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar. Unique in their own ways, each experience has allowed me to view a different permutation of French culture that is so often viewed as the ubiquitious image of a caricatured Paris (baguettes, cafés, cobblestone streets, la Tour Eiffel, etc.) . It has been fascinating to see how certain elements of French culture mix and morph to form identities that are so drastically different from metropolitan France, and yet, still 100% authentically French.

Whether in mainland France or elsewhere, I would highly recommend this program. Not only for those looking to improve their French-speaking abilities, but also for those seeking personal growth and professional development. Above all, I would recommend this program for the people and the meaningful relationships I have been able to cultivate.