While I'm an American by blood (and proud), I have this insatiable crush on France. Its romance language makes my heart race, and its commitment to Nutella as a basic food group makes me salivate. The French take their time, savor each moment and make some dang good dessert. Their independence day is approaching rapidement, … Continue reading How to Throw the Perfect Bastille Day Party
Sitting in an American classroom with a French textbook can only do so much. Sure, it provides the base to succeed once abroad, but touching down on French soil is an entirely different experience. I worked in Toulouse, France last summer and love learning to travel deeper, but have never experienced a traditional study abroad … Continue reading Confessions of a Study Abroad Student
From verb tenses to conjugations, sentence structure to grammar, there’s a lot a classroom can teach you about a foreign language. My 13-year-old decision to take French instead of Spanish (because I didn’t want to be just like my older siblings) really was made on a whim, but it was in that classroom, G27, that … Continue reading 16 Things They Don’t Teach You in French Class
France may only be the size of Texas, but its culture and specifically its haute couture have enamored women worldwide. We look to coveted designers from Chanel to Dior to help us achieve that je ne sais quoi. But no matter the little black dress or strand of pearls, one piece cannot embody an entire … Continue reading How to Dress Like a French Woman
Traveling abroad often costs a pretty penny, but several women found their way around that hurdle. Becoming an au pair opens a door into another culture, and it includes a paycheck. (Now we're talking!) Abano, Italy made sense for Kasey Ervin after enjoying her family vacation to the country several years before as well as … Continue reading Inside the Life of an Au Pair in Europe
I couldn’t even have dreamed it. I have big plans for my life: to see the world, to make a difference in my community, to be bilingual. But never in my wildest dreams did I conceive of spending the night in a castle. Too far out. Too expensive. C’est trop. Cultural immersion isn’t always easy, … Continue reading My Weekend in a French Castle
It’s a big city but also a small town. I’ve never been anywhere like Toulouse: a bustling city with multiple metro lines yet boasts a small town charm. This city and its culture are incredibly beautiful, and these few snapshots can’t even convey all of its glory. Jardin des Plantes This garden had been recommended … Continue reading Photo Diary: Toulouse, France
Three museums in four hours? And all for free? Oh yeah, baby! It hadn’t even been a week of living in Europe, but I hit up La Nuit des Musées (Night at the Museums) with several friends. On this night hundreds of museums open for free in France and several other countries, and this day only … Continue reading Night at the Museums
Is it possible to be awfully panicked yet overwhelmingly pumped all at the same time? I can’t believe I leave for my summer adventure in Europe in a few short days. I’m all for living in the moment, but I also want to be intentional with the time I have there. That being said, here … Continue reading My Summer Bucket List (+Free Template)
We all dream of eating pizza near the Pantheon, skiing down the Swiss Alps, munching on a macaroon in the gardens of Versailles. I don’t know many people who wouldn’t love to drop everything for a trip to Europe if time and money permitted. But when it comes to foreign language, most people quickly say … Continue reading 6 Reasons to Learn a Foreign Language
