Hi everyone! I’m a first year history PhD student about to set off to Grenoble, France for my summer language abroad experience. I am currently with my fiancé’s family in Oklahoma City and am gearing up for many changes in the next couple of weeks––moving to a new continent, studying a new language, and immersing myself in a new culture. The conversations I have had with my SLA cohort have already helped me reflect on some of the challenges I might face during this experience. For one, I have had the opportunity to reflect on my own values––namely, how my Catholic faith, academic background, and socioeconomic status each shape my interactions with other people and places. I have noticed that this has been a central topic of conversation in our discussion posts. How can we simultaneously be confident in our own religious and cultural identities while being inclusive of different ones? I hope to practice walking this line in France––growing as a Catholic while learning more about other systems of belief.
In addition to developing my own beliefs and understanding of others’, I am just really looking forward to getting to know a new place, culture, and language. Living in the mountains outside of Grenoble, I am eager to take advantage of the chance to build relationships with hikers, paragliders, and hut keepers. And in my classes in the city, I am ready to work hard to grow as a French speaker and writer. I am already so thankful for the chance to embark on this journey and look forward to keeping everyone updated on my travels!