“My most memorable experience in Paris aside from all the landmarks and the scenery was probably just walking along the streets. A couple of times I went out alone to do things, just walking down the streets or even taking the Metro. It’s amazing to just blend into their culture and their way of life. I just got this feeling that the world wasn’t such a big and bad place. I mean here I am from a small town in Oklahoma and I’m walking the streets of Paris alone. It was an amazing and tremendous feeling. I believe that I did gain some self-confidence from it. The world doesn’t seem so intimidating and huge to me anymore.”

— Matthew Mahurin

“My trip to Paris was probably one of the best things that has ever happened to be. It was very enlightening to experience how people live in that country, even though it was only for a week. I discovered many things about myself, but one thing really stands out in my mind. I realized that I have been keeping myself from doing new things because of fear. I was afraid to take a step in a direction with uncertain consequences. When I went on this trip, I stepped out of my comfort zone. This experience has made me want to broaden my horizons and travel more. I am already planning to go on a trip to Europe next summer.”

— Lyndsey Shaffar

“This trip has done so much for me. I made a whole new group of friends whom I will never forget, but more than that it gave me a little direction for what I want to do with myself. I always had the aspiration to be in the media business, but I never really considered what type of media. This trip opened my eyes to a whole new world of media. That is why I plan to revisit Paris and eventually live there and set up a career overseas.”

“I now know that there is a whole world out there that is full of opportunity and I know that the only way to find out what these opportunities are is to get myself out there and experience them. Life in itself is an experience, but if you stay in just one spot you are not experiencing yourself to the fullest.”

— Wayne Buck

“I have been fortunate enough to have traveled abroad even prior to my experience in France. However, I have never gotten a glimpse of the world comparable to the one I saw through a Parisian lens. Honestly, I had never had a noteworthy interest in France as a country, nor had I been intrigued by the French culture. Although within moments of arriving in Paris, my lackadaisical preconceptions were anything but steadfast. My thoughts of indifference were relinquished to a country rooted in an ambiance full of beautiful culture. Within that beautiful culture, the landscape was splashed with museums housing some of the world’s most beloved artwork, boulevards offering delicate cafes, meeting places, shops sure to please any passerby, fountains offering a soothing sound to the noise of the day’s work, and street performers pursuing a smile and without apprehension, a few Euros.”

“There is, however, an equally intriguing aspect of my time in Paris that is comprised of artistic, emotional, intellectual and political stimuli. Familiarizing myself with the thought process of the French helped to open many doors in concerns with my personal philosophy of life. Artistically speaking, I noticed the value of art in Parisian society — one of which sadly supercedes that of American thought — to be more than gazing upon the art itself, but rather to allow the idea of the art to flow into the atmosphere of the city. Emotionally, the city allows every friend to befriend as he wishes, every lover to love without apprehension, and allows the family to connect more intimately with each member. Often I feel as if in American society these ideals are oppressed by lack of time, lack of interest, and fear of societal expectations. Intellectually, the Parisian viewpoints are much more liberating than those of many Americans. I feel as if France fosters — from a young age — the ideas of self expression and motivation, and promotes the awareness of creativity and respect for other’s personal expressions. Lastly, and debatably most important, I feel as if France has cultivated a wonderful political though process. France is certainly a more global-thinking country in comparison with the United States. The idea of a global village is an aspect of French culture that I diagnose the United States in much need of.”

— Aaron Duff

“Probably what I enjoyed most about Paris and France was the intellectualism that exists there. People sit in cafes and discuss politics and philosophy for hours. Instead of getting embarrassingly drunk and slobbering all over each other in a bar, they enjoy a beer and have good conversation. It did improve my self-confidence knowing that places do exist in the world where I don’t have to be fake and talk about things that don’t matter. I believe that much of that intellectualism spills over into the type of government France has. Obviously, the education system there works incredibly well.”

— Allison Rosewicz

“This experience was more than I could have imagined. The sites were more beautiful than the pictures, and to be submerged into a culture like that is such an incredible feeling. By the end of the week, I did not want to leave. I had learned how to use the Metro, learned the basics of typical French phrases, and even come to enjoy the typical lunch, a baguette with cheese. (I have even gone to St. Louis Bread Company twice already and ordered just that.)”

“The week was filled with lots of interesting speakers about a variety of topics relating to communications. Each was different in its own way, yet had the same basic ideas. I had a good amount of questions, and was pleased that they could be answered. I was able to get contact information from a few of the speakers for possible internships and/or future careers. I was also very impressed with the kindness of our hosts; they were more than happy to help us in any way that they could, and went out of their way to try to feed us at least once a day.”

— Melissa Husby

“Now that I’m back in classes at Missouri Southern, I have noticed a change in my attitude — I am more eager than ever to graduate and live in another place. I’d love to spend more time in France, and writing about it today makes me even more anxious to see it again. On a broader scale, I think that my study abroad experience will change the way I look at my classes by giving me a more informed and experienced world view. Having traveled outside the U.S., I have become more interested in news, culture, and art from other parts of the world. When any of these topics come up in class, I feel more qualified to discuss them because of my overseas experience.”

— Krystal Fleshman

Student comments from the Spring 2000 trip to Paris