What program did you participate in?
- In Fall 2025, I did a semester abroad in Strasbourg, France. The program is through UCEAP and in partnership with a European organization, the Institute for Field Education (IFE). Unlike your traditional study abroad, this program is an advanced language intensive, internship, and research program.
- Learn more about the program here: https://uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu/programs/field-research-internship-strasbourg.
What was the highlight of your time abroad?
- I have so many great memories from my time in Strasbourg, but the highlight was gaining a new perspective on what community can mean. This manifested in lots of ways, how my work planned events with multiple long snack breaks to converse with one another, how my residence hall coordinated events, unlearning many of the individualistic habits I have from growing up in the U.S., and more. It was a very valuable perspective shift for me.
What was your favorite place you visited?
- My favorite place in Strasbourg is hands-down the Strasbourg Cathedral. It is insanely beautiful and has such a rich history. Fun Fact: it was the tallest building in the world for 200 years!
What was your favorite trip you went on?
- I had the opportunity to go on lots of fun trips when I was in Strasbourg. It is hard to pick a favorite. The motto of the program is definitely work hard, play hard because we end up working nearly full-time and are also writing a 40-page research paper. However, there are built-in long-weekends! I made the most of those and the 2-day weekends visiting Paris, Rome, Copenhagen, Lund, London, Luxembourg, and Stuttgart. I also loved being able to explore different towns and villages in Alsace (the region where Strasbourg is located). Strasbourg's train station is the second largest in France, making it easy to connect to different places. There are also a lot of FlixBus options which can connect you to the nearby airports with cheaper flights in Basel, Zurich, and Frankfurt.
What is something you are proud of from your time abroad?
- I am very proud of how my French progressed because of this program. I was able to reach the threshold of fluency where it's now a default setting in my brain. I particularly value the confidence I gained in my conversational French and being able to transition away from solely relying on the more formal French I learned in my high school and college classes.
How has this experience changed your perspective?
- Being abroad made me realize that I don't need to climb the corporate ladder to achieve my goals. Through doing my internship with the City and Eurometropolis of Strasbourg's Office of Health and Autonomy where I worked on accessibility projects, I saw how work could get done without the pressures of being the fastest or the best. There was a large emphasis on co-collaboration between nonprofits, companies, and the local government that prioritized good work getting done and relying on one another. This experience allowed me to be open to diverging from the more traditional 9-to-5 path I thought was ahead of me and consider returning to France for my career.
Do you have any advice for other students?
- If you have or will complete 7 quarters of French at Davis (or the equivalent level), do this program! It is incredibly valuable to your language learning and resume building. The IFE team works tirelessly with you to find an internship tailored to your interests. I was personally offered 5-6 leads and was able to choose and then interview with the one I felt most aligned with. The work you do is meaningful and you are fully integrated into your workplace. I will admit it is a bit difficult to make friends since the classes in the beginning are limited to your cohort, but if you stay in the residence hall you are bound to meet people there and also it is a good exercise in putting yourself out there. You can also do the same program in Paris and some semesters in Marseille if that is more your speed!