For my third Winter Term this January, I was lucky enough to be admitted to the French department’s annual intensive French language study in Bordeaux. If you’ve read my previous blogs, you’ll likely remember that my second Winter Term was an intensive language study of Spanish in Guadalajara, Mexico, through the Hispanic studies department. Why do I need to study yet another new language, you might ask? All right, well I don’t need to, but there are a few reasons I thought this trip would be an incredibly interesting, productive step in my educational and personal journeys through life.
The first reason I picked to apply for the Bordeaux trip was that my previous experience with Spanish language immersion was one of the most enjoyable ventures in my life, and brought me leaps and bounds further with the language. I found through that trip that I loved exploring a foreign city, becoming acquainted with a new culture, and even the rigorous form of study required in taking multiple hours of language class each weekday morning. Considering all the opportunities I got access to through the Guadalajara trip, the winter term’s price also was an excellent deal and so, looking at the similar price and features provided through the Bordeaux trip, I decided that applying would be a great idea.
The second reason I applied for the Bordeaux trip was that, in accordance with the primary goal of the program, I actually want to learn French. One of my favorite places I ever traveled in the world was the city of Paris, bursting with businesses and tourist attractions I’ll remember all my life. I really treasured the trip I got to take to the city with the Oregon Ambassadors of Music Choir, and by learning to speak French as my third language, I would be able to experience Paris and the rest of France’s wonderful scenery better by engaging directly with the locals in their language each time I return.
After choosing to apply due to these things, I became still further excited for the Bordeaux program when I attended the information session, and learned about the many unique spots we’ll be visiting in the city and met the kind and enthusiastic group who I would be taking the journey with (a group of Oberlin students which our trip coordinator has aptly nicknamed “Bordobies”). Speaking of our trip coordinator, I was overjoyed to learn that an Oberlin professor who was from Bordeaux himself would be leading us through the city and introducing us to many of his favorite spots. I feel confident that by the end of the program I will have experienced and gotten to know in the best ways all the greatest attractions the city of Bordeaux has to offer.
Of course, my situation going into the Bordeaux trip is very different than at the start of the Guadalajara one, as I have never taken a French class in my life, as opposed to the many Spanish classes I’ve been in since high school. Because of this, I know I’ll have more struggles communicating with my host family and getting around the city. I have confidence that I’ll make it through, though, and learn a lot with the help of our language instructors and those who speak English and are kind enough to explain things to me (I remember from my last trip to France that most of the people I met spoke English in addition to their country’s language). I truly believe that my time in Bordeaux this January will turn out to be yet another of the incredibly enriching experiences I’ve been lucky enough to have through attending Oberlin. Look for my blog posts in February if you’re interested in hearing how the Bordeaux trip goes. I can’t wait!
