"Not only was I able to explore the city through class field trips and personal excursions, but I also was able to explore who I’d be living in a foreign country."
This summer in Paris brought many wonderful and dear memories. Not only was I able to explore the city through class field trips and personal excursions, but I also was able to explore who I’d be living in a foreign country. I’m more often than not a stay at home introvert, but Paris really opened up an extroverted side of me.
Looking back, there was definitely a French speaking extrovert hidden within me this whole time! One day, when I originally just planned for breakfast at the Petit Palais, a burst of unexpected energy took me on a full museum tour, then a voyage across Pont Alexandre III (with pretty views of the Eiffel Tower!), to the Assemblée Nationale, a cute cafe, and the Musée d’Orsay, plus peeking into a few riverside food stalls and shops along the way. Many memorable days were made from these impromptu trips around the city. With all the exciting places Paris has to offer, I loved being an adventurist during my time there.
The community of teachers and students at Reid Hall was both kind, understanding and welcoming. Whether that be handing out waters to students and arranging air-conditioning spaces for us during the big heat wave, to recommending places to eat and checking in on our well-being, I found that the faculty truly cares for us. Friends and classmates would invite each other to museums, games, brunch, and World Cup gatherings, so they really made my time there fun and enjoyable.
One of the highlights of this once-in-a-college-lifetime summer session was playing the piano side by side with
Professor Baczewska. She has the warmest personality I’ve ever seen at Columbia, plus she has so many fun and insightful stories and knowledge about music and music history. Professor Baczewska’s performance brought people of many ages from places all around the globe: the States, Paris, alumni, family and visiting students. It was such an honor to be able to learn from her and perform with a kind pianist of such high caliber. I’m truly so grateful for my time in Paris.
