BEWARE! The end is nigh.

It's difficult to imagine that it's already been over three months since I was met by Willi at the Gare de Strasbourg in the waning summer heat. As classes come to an end and the finals beat me about the heat, I reflect quietly on the time I've spent in France. I've seen history, dreamed of the future and become lost in the present. I will miss the friends I've made here. I will remember fondly stepping onto the tram upon returning from my trip to Paris and thinking, "Ohmy! I'm home."

As I look back, I see that I could have done some things differently. But at the same time, I value every moment that I've had here. It's sad to grow so fond of a place and then have to be ripped from it. That said, another band of merry GSU students will soon be on their way to take the place of my cohort. I can only wish them the same awe-inspiring experience that I've had.

-ALdeCroÿ

The End

As my semester abroad comes to an end and classes begin to whine down, i can finally have time to appreciate the time I've had here. Management classes at Strasbourg University, as a political science major, were difficult and uninteresting at first. Now, at the end of term, I realize that it is not only making me a well rounded college graduate but also has become interesting. Not only have the classes been interesting but I have loved my new French buddies and friends I've made here.
After weeks of relaxing and taking a "laisse faire" approach to school, it has finally caught up with me. Most of my classes have decided to bombard two random weeks in November with assignments, projects, and tests that cease to exist during the first part of the semester and during finals week. As the assignments begin to pile, I begin to realize that this one assignment, project or test will practically determine my grade in the class. I have never had a class before where a single task counts as much as ninety percent of the grade in the course. Naturally, I'm terrified. This system is very different from the American grading system I am used to. I'm used to having attendance not only count as part of my grade but also as extra credit in some classes. Daily assignments and quizzes cushion the majority of the test grades and tests are given every eight weeks or six weeks or so. Ecole de management only has one task that determines your FINAL grade. Not only is this one obstacle to overcome but the most difficult part of the assignments is when it comes to group work. I found it difficult to coordinate with others' schedule since the Chateau is a long bus ride away from both school and the city center, where most other students live.

The End of the Semester

The
semester is coming to an end which means that it is almost time for finals to
begin. I am nervous because the French system bases 50% of the total grade on
the final exam and the other 50% on participation and other miscellaneous
grades. If I were in the United States at this time I would be freaking out
about finals and drinking large amounts of coffee but I am somehow keeping it
together here. Maybe it is because most of my teachers have been laid back when
it comes to the previous assignments I have done. With this being said, they
expect students to do each assignment thoroughly and correctly so we have to be
self-motivated to do well in these courses.
One of the best parts of my French
classes is being able to do group projects with other students from around the
world. Most of my previous grades have been through group assignments and
everyone assigns themselves parts so you are never stuck with doing something
that is overwhelming or boring. Going to an international school has been one
of the best experiences because I have made friends with students from France,
Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, and others. This is one thing that I wish the US
did more of.
-
Rachel Cooper

The Program that Was and the Experience gained!

Only two weeks remaining before I leave The Chateau, time has gone by pretty fast, living and going to School in Strasbourg, France was worth every minute, every hour and every penny I paid to the program. "To go is to see" goes the ol' wise saying, and yes, in deed, I came, I saw and now I am getting ready to leave it all behind.

The experience will live in me for a long, long time to come. The people I met, the places I went and the food I ate, shall serve me in my future reflections about Strasbourg and the Chateau. I will expect to be granted a 'spot of time' when my mind will wonder back to France from time to time.

This program was wonderful, but I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would miss GSU, the way I did while here, it goes to show what a great school GSU is. I miss you Panther!

For those, who have never traveled outside the U.S, I would urge you to take chance to go to any study abroad program, you will of course get an experience like no other, but above it all, you will learn to appreciate your home institution, I loved it here, but I embrace my GSU and look forward to the Spring Semester.

It is time to say good bye to France and all the nice Christmas markets, and the professors I came in contact with, but deep down I shall forever cherish Strasbourg with fond memories.

This is for Dr. Downs...I cannot write about any experience gained intellectually with French students. Reason, Ecole de Management is only for international students from all over the world. I met and made good friends with students from Sweden, Israel, Georgia, Portugal, Greece and China.

What am I looking forward to doing once I return home, one would ask? Of course, the biggest break will be to close my computer and not look at any monitor and a key board for at least two weeks, I deserve that break! - Caroline

Wrapping Up The Term

I haven't had a lot to say about academics this semester, because well, my classes are few and far between. As it comes down to the last two weeks, however, I realize that it's going to come at me all at once. Three major finals, a presentation this week, a three day seminar. Which, sure, doesn't sound like a lot, but after the slow semester that I had, it's a bit overwhelming.

It's funny when you realize you have all of this free time with no immediate work that needs to be turned in, but then when it's time to do the work, it comes at you head on. I'm not too incredibly stressed out, I just know it will be a tough week that I will be glad when it is over. That's the difference between the French system and the American system, with French work, there are only a few grades that determine your final grade. And in the American system you are given frequent work to measure your progress in the class. I'm undecided which system I like, both have their flaws and their advantages, and both you just have to get used to.

These next two weeks will be a strange feeling, when we're all getting to the end of our stay, packing our things, doing last minute Christmas shopping for friends and family, and finishing up on classes. It will be a surreal feeling when I land back in Atlanta.

-Jessica Fitzgerald

The Chateau Support System

There's a lot to be said about studying abroad. There are adaptations to be made and ways to get prepared. A big fear for most is being homesick, not having a support system behind them and being lonely. That is something that has not been an issue here. I live in a Chateau with thirty five other people. Who are going through the exact thing that you are. They are there for you and they know how you feel. And you even have the "Chateau Mom & Dad" Jim and Jan.

So when there is a particularly hard week, maybe your friends will get together one night and cook a group meal. It is close to the end of our time here and last week my friends held a "Southern Night" wherein we pitched in on making a dish each. We had fried chicken, cornbread, beans, potato salad, blackberry cobbler, mac & cheese, and a hole table full of other things. It was a good night for those of us who had started to feel homesick. Nights like these make you feel like there is a family with you everywhere.

-Jessica Fitzgerald