Hi everyone! My name is Alannah, I’m a fourth year studying Sociology and French and I have just come back from a full year exchange at Sorbonne IV in Paris. I’m just over two months back in Ireland and I’d like to share a glimpse into my study abroad experience in the hopes of inspiring you to partake in your own!
Semester One: From Confusion to Captivation
Having never been to Paris before, I stepped off the plane at Charles de Gaulle airport greeted by sweltering heat, angry French taxi drivers, and an absence of GAA jerseys. My pre-trip Googling had primed me for a city often described as expensive, rude, and dirty.
However, my preconceived notions quickly crumbled as I immersed myself in Parisian life. Surrounded by beautiful architecture and an unmistakable sense of culture, Paris quickly sucked me into the romantic image we so often see on social media and in films.
With a combination of new friends, a much-appreciated Erasmus grant, and an overwhelming sense of excitement, the first semester absolutely flew by!
I spent my weekends and time after classes going to art galleries, exhibitions, markets, and cafés. I spent my evenings drinking cheap wine and gossiping about the Emily in Paris actor my friend bumped into in the 5th arrondissement, or our odds of meeting French footballer Kylian Mbappé who lived around the corner from our favourite bar.
Paris unveiled its vibrant nightlight, and nights usually turned to dawn. I got used to being out until 6am and even discovered that Parisians could be surprisingly warm, if you avoided the all-too-common tourist blunder of expecting them to speak English.
In classes, I would often marvel at the frescoes on the walls, only to watch them disappear behind a lowering projector screen. This transition from the stark, grey brutalist features of Trinity’s Arts Block to the grandeur of lecture halls that doubled as works of art at Sorbonne was nothing short of surreal (no offense to the Ed Burke!) and Paris quickly started to hold a sense of familiarity.
By the end of Christmas break, I was ready to go back!
Semester Two: Strikes, Strikes, and More Strikes!
The idyllic version of Paris faded in my second semester. French president Emmanuel Macron forced through a controversial amendment to French retirement law and the seemingly never-ending strikes began.
Piles of rubbish were strewn all over the streets and rats could often be seen helping themselves to a tasty lunch. The Metro service ground to a halt, my usually quiet late morning commute turned into catching the early train squashed in amongst other irritated passengers, and my cheap nights out got very expensive, being forced to take Ubers when the night bus service was cancelled.
Despite the inconveniences, I was able to attend some of the protests and it was like nothing I’ve ever been a part of before. The energy of the crowd and the genuine hope for change, was far from the “ah sure look what can you do?” attitude we often see in Ireland.
I also got to do some travelling during the semester, visiting Spain, Italy, and the south of France. I even know some people who went on the DU Snowsports trip and a couple who went home for T Ball, so you don’t have to miss all things Trinity while you’re away!
Making Friends
Although there were plenty of Trinity students on exchange in Paris, I was the only person from my course during the first semester. Initially, I found it hard to make friends as the French students kept a little more to themselves unlike Trinity, there isn’t a huge campus culture at Sorbonne IV and societies weren’t really a thing. I found friends through Erasmus WhatsApp groups and going to as many social events as I could during my first few weeks. What started as finding the people I had the most in common soon became real friendships which now give me an excuse to visit lots of other European cities!
The Realities of Studying Abroad
Moving to a foreign city can be daunting, but it’s also where you discover your strengths and improve your weaknesses. Unlike at Trinity, in France you are expected to create your own timetable and enrol yourself in classes individually. (Kudos to Academic Registry for doing this on our behalf! You’re doing amazing sweetie!)
On the plus side, their administration is a more relaxed than I have experienced in Ireland – if you’re not five minutes late to your lecture in France, you’re early! Not only this, but you will have to find accommodation without knowing the ins and outs of what’s normal, not to mention getting used to a different university portal, a foreign email system, and getting your Learning Agreement document signed.
So definitely do your research prior to arriving and plan accordingly!
Sometimes viewed as a deterrent to studying abroad, the language barrier actually provided some much-needed entertainment. I had a lot of fun explaining Irish slang to my French friends and vice versa! I also made so many mistakes when I first arrived.
On my third day, I walked into a huge pharmacy and security asked to inspect my bag. I mistook this as being asked if I wanted a basket from the towering stack of them nearby, and said “non, merci!” before charging through to the shopping area smiling cheerily. I like to think he was just as confused as I was. Nonetheless, he let me on my way, realising that I posed minimal security risk and my limited French-speaking abilities would prevent me from doing a hold-up style robbery.
Luckily my French improved dramatically and by the end of my exchange I was getting fewer and fewer confused faces and gestures became a thing of the past.
A Journey Worth Taking
To anybody even thinking about applying to take part in study abroad, I can’t recommend it enough! You’ll get the chance to see an entirely different culture, meet so many people, and try every TikTok trendy bar you can find! I do hope my reflections inspire you to embark on your own study abroad adventure. If nothing else, do it for the amazing memories!
To learn more about Trinity’s study abroad, international exchange, and Erasmus scheme options, check out the website.
