Brown in France

Student Reflections
Everybody feels they know Paris- the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Élysées, the Eiffel Tower. Even if you have never been, Amelie Poulain’s Montmartre and Hemingway’s St. Germain form part of collective dream of the city. In a way, Paris belongs to the world- you can have never set foot within the 20 arrondissements and yet still feel as though you know the place. And in a lot of ways, you do. Paris has an aspect that is universal- the whole world is present here- cultures, arts, foods. Though while that universal aspect of Paris is what is most readily apparent, if you choose to spend a year or semester here, you’ll gradually come to discover the other more personal, intimate side of this city. Through some magical conjugation, Paris is able to be both one of the world’s pre-eminent cities, and at the same time retain the essential elements of traditional French village life.

Whether you choose to study at the Sorbonne (Universités de Paris I, III, or IV), Paris VI, Paris VIII, or at the elite Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po), you will find a full array of subjects and courses, all entirely integrated with French students. The quality of education is first rate, but what you learn in your classrooms is only the beginning. Paris offers an unrivalled array of extra-curricular and cultural activities.

Paris is a place where the world’s cultures come to show off. There are more different films playing in Paris at any given time than anywhere else on earth. From the latest Hollywood blockbuster to a newly remastered copy of a Chaplin masterpiece to a first film from a new African director, they’re all playing in your neighbourhood. The three major art museums are all continually showcasing various talents: you’ll find anything from ancient Egypt at the Louvre to the most cutting edge performance art at the Beaubourg. Various clubs host the cream of European DJs and live acts (the Rex clubs Automatik evenings are legendary), and every musical group on a European tour is bound to stop in Paris. Or for a more refined soirée, the stunning Opéra Garnier hosts everything from the most modern dance to the classical repertoires of Puccini and Verdi.

All aspects of life can be pursued at the highest level in this city. The three star restaurants are always available if you’re really trying to impress someone, but the fresh produce available in the market around the corner will also allow you to spice up the ol’ spaghetti and rice student diet. And when all else fails, there’s bound to be a crêpe stand open nearby. And few culinary experiences rival the pleasure of getting to the bakery right after the fresh baguettes have come out of the oven and eating half of one on the walk home.

Paris is a city of discovery- usually when you don’t expect to. The architectural marvels you’ll discover by deciding to walk a slightly different way home during a grève (ahhh, Paris transportation strikes…) might lead you to hidden 16th century courtyards, or remnants of Roman Paris, or simply a quiet street full of charm that isn’t written up in any guidebook. On other occasions, the sheer history of the place is quite overwhelming- the Sun King at Versailles, Napoleon in the Palais Royal, Robespierre and Danton at the Hôtel de Ville all seem to still be present today. The Paris you see today is the result of events that have shaped not just the city, but the world.

Should you ever feel the need to see something other than Paris, its location- nearly smack in the centre of western Europe- means that getting around is very easy. By train, you have access to all of France through the extremely rapid TGV system. From there it’s easy to link up with the other national rail systems, and since the Treaty of Maastricht, there are no border controls or visas to impediment your discovery of Spain, Italy, Germany, or wherever else your fancy (and resources!) might take you. The two airports are hubs to the rest of the world, so arriving and departing the continent is no problem either.

To help you get settled in your new life in Paris, the Brown Office of International Programs maintains an office in the city, staffed full-time so that there is always someone to assist you. They can help you with everything: the fine points of the university bureaucracy, setting up meetings with one of the program resident tutors to go over an essay, recommending teachers and classes, finding accommodation, or simply recommending good restaurants. Also part of the program, once a month, Brown in Paris organizes cultural outings- always something different, but always of excellent quality- dance, the opera, the circus, a play. And once a semester, the Paris and Lyon students get together for a 3-4 day trip to another part of France.
In short, Paris has everything you could ever hope for or imagine, and all sorts of things you never would. And since it’s always changing, no matter how well you feel you know the place, there will always be surprises for you. If you get bored in Paris, there’s not much hope for you. Though be warned- once you are here, you may never want to leave…

-James Irwin (Brown Class of 2004)