It's in motion!

T-minus 4 months until my dream comes true! Might as well start this blog thing early since Paris is all I can think about these days. I’m going to be studying abroad in Paris, France for 4 months with the organization CEA, and I’m doing the program International Business. I requested the following classes- Haute Couture in Paris: The History of Haute Couture, Fashion Marketing & Merchandising, International Business, Oenology: The History, Culture & Business of Wine, and last but not least Beginning French II. Definitely need to brush up on my French. We will see, hopefully I get into the ones I want. I will be able to use the haute couture and fashion marketing classes toward my major, and I’m still waiting for the news as to whether or not haute couture will be accepted for my history core here. Cross those fingers! I’m really excited for these classes though because a chunk of the work is taking field trips to visit fashion houses and flagship stores, fashion shows, museums, see the fashion district, speaking with designers, and visiting vineyards; all of which barely sound like schoolwork. I plan to give my grandpa Pfeiffer a run for his money in wine knowledge. ;)


I signed up for a shared apartment with other CEA students which are randomly matched. The apartments are spread all over Paris in the multiple districts and from what I can see in the pictures they look nice. I want to travel as much as I possibly can while I’m there! CEA offers us 1-2 excursions that we can choose between which they set up, some places in the past have been Giverny, Loire Valley Chateaux, Mont St. Michel, Perigord, Reims, and Strasbourg. Other places in France that I'd like to visit are Brodeaux, Nice, Marseille, St. Tropez, Lyon, Grenoble, and Tours. I also really want to see Europe like London, Berlin, Munich (Oktoberfest!), Dublin, Edinburgh, Barcelona, Madrid, Zurich, Geneva, Athens, and Italy during my fall break (Florence, Rome, Venice, Milan). Yeah I know, good luck right…

I created a group on Facebook for my fellow study abroaders, and quite a few people have joined already. It’s nice that we can get to know each other a little bit before we end up spending 4 months together on foreign ground. Some people have already been to Europe and some are like me and have barely been to Canada. A lot are fluent in French and I’m surprised there are a few who have never had a class in French!

I haven’t thought too much about flights or (ahhh!) packing! I’m going to put that off for just a bit longer. I’ve been making little notes to myself about things I should remember, do, bring, etc., and I’ve already filled 4 sheets of paper haha! I’m actually surprised how much work it is to prepare for study abroad.

I've always had such a strong love affair with France <3
August 23rd…can’t wait!