Decisions, Decisions...

Bonjour mes amis,

As my semester abroad draws nearer and nearer, (though it is still a ways off), I have found myself in a bit of a predicament as of late:

I am suddenly unsure whether I should change programs, or stick with AIFS in Cannes...

Unfortunately, this period of hesitation has struck me at a time where absolute certainty is of the essence and many a scholarship essay are riding on my ability to explain how, exactly, my choice of destination and curriculum will most absolutely and comprehensively foster my growth and progress toward my academic, personal and career goals, or whatever.

What if I get an award, and then change my mind, and then can't use the scholarship at my new location?! Tensions run high.

To help myself work this out, I have decided to type forth my ever-churning internal monologue and tell you all what made me fall for Cannes in the first place, and what has me feeling up in the air. I would really appreciate your opinions!

Firstly, for the pros,  just look at it:

Le Collège International de Cannes

Cannes is undoubtedly a stunning location to study abroad. As shown in the above photo, the Collège International de Cannes is mere blocks from the Mediterranean Sea. The weather is typically balmy and comfortable during the spring semester and, again, it's coastal. 

Sunset Over The Marina

Imagine it as having all of the cafés, marchés, flea markets and festivals of inland France with the tropical charm of the beach. Il est peut-être le meilleur melange! 

Café des Halles 

Marché Forville

In addition, the all-inclusive program fee covers:

• A round-trip flight/connection package from:
• U.S. to London
• London to Nice
• Nice to U.S.
• Airport to London Hotel
• London Hotel to Airport
• Airport to Campus
• Campus to Airport
• Airport reception
• A 3-day trip to London, England (accommodations, breakfast, sightseeing tour and local guide)
• Tuition (up to 18 semester hours)
• Housing (homestay or dorms)
• Breakfast and lunch on campus or at the homestay
• "Cultural activities" such as museum visits, theater performances and local sightseeing
• A Pass to the Cannes Film Festival and entrance to the screening
• A 4-day Paris trip (transportation, accommodations, breakfast, sightseeing and entrance fees to certain monuments and attractions)
• A 2-day trip to Provence (transportation, accommodations, meals, sightseeing and entrance fee to a vineyard tour and wine tasting)
• Comprehensive insurance and assistance package
• Services of a pre-departure Student Advisory Center and an on-site Resident Director

Unfortunately, the above package is an outrageous $17,515 and STILL doesn't include the following necessities, or additional travel:

• Application fees (WIU $45& AIFS $95)
• Passport/Visa fees
• Books and supplies
• Cell phone plan 
• Lunch and dinner in London and Paris
• Dinner in Cannes (230€/month at homestay, 12€/night or 800€/semester at the dorms)
• Spending money, souvenirs, gifts
• WIU mandatory insurance
• Accommodation during spring break (campus is closed)
• Excursion to Florence, Italy (3 days - $595)
• Excursion to Provence, southeast France (2 days - $295)

We're talking about a minimum of  $22,000, easily, before souvenirs and solo travel. 

 Also, compared to some other programs the course selection in Cannes is somewhat slim. Most likely, I will have to take a single French language class and two seminars: "19th and 20th Century Art" and "French Civilization". Le bore. No phonetics, tourism or gastronomy classes are offered. Even though everything in Cannes counts toward my degree, I would really rather take more Major/minor specific courses: French language and Tourism.

This realization led me to the AIFS program at the Catholic University of Paris. Being as it is administered through the same provider, it retains many of the positive traits I found attractive about the Cannes program; it even seems stronger in some aspects. Unfortunately, it has its own weak spots. Let's analyze it now. 

For starters, freakin' Paris:

La Tour Eiffel

Paris is where everyone's mind goes to when they think "France". It's overwhelmingly rich with monuments, museums and historical sites. 

Love locks on le Pont des Arts

 Not to mention, I love clichés and cafés and stripes and bicycles as much as the next Francophile. So much so that a 3 day field trip to Paris may not be enough to quench my thirst for them.

Sidewalk Café, Paris

Secondly, the all-inclusive program fee for this program covers much of the same stuff as for Cannes:

• A round-trip flight/transportation package from:
• U.S. to London (flight)
• London to Paris (train)
• Paris to U.S. (flight)
• Transfers
• Airport to London Hotel
• London Hotel to Station
• Station to Campus
• Campus to Airport
• Airport reception
• 3-day trip to London (Includes Eurostar from London to Paris, accommodations, breakfast, sightseeing tour and local guide)
• Tuition (up to 16 semester credits)
• Housing (in a Parisian home)
• Some meals (daily breakfast with your host, two snack tickets per week, plus three group dinners and two vouchers for 3-course meals during the semester
• "Cultural activities" such as visits to museums and monuments, theater, ballet, concerts, walking tours, a boat ride and day trips outside Paris
• Comprehensive insurance and assistance package
• Conversation classes with native French speakers
• Services of a pre-departure Student Advisory Center and an on-site Resident Director and staff

 The price for Paris is still $15,675, but that's $2,000 less than Cannes. This price does not cover the following necessities or additional travel:

• Application fees (WIU $45 & AIFS $95)
• Passport/Visa fees
• Books and supplies
• Cell phone plan 
• Lunch and dinner in London
• Additional meals (plan available for about $1050)
• Spending money, souvenirs, gifts
• WIU mandatory insurance
• Accommodation during spring break 
• Optional excursions:
• Châteaux de la Loire (2 days - $295)
• Normandy (2 days - $295)

 At the Catholic University of Paris, I can take a diverse range of French language classes including phonetics, written arguments and spoken French. They also offer a Gastronomy and Tourism class to compliment my minor!

 To my utmost displeasure, though, for both programs student alums said it was hard to live on a budget due to the high cost of living, and that many locals and students spoke English, which makes sense due to the fact that both universities are international schools and not French colleges. It is fairly important to me feel immersed in the language and culture in and out of school. Plus, I am a tightwad.

Essentially, I need a program that:

• is fairly inexpensive to counter the high cost of living in France. Due to the conversion rate, I will already lose a substantial portion of my money just by leaving the U.S!
• is in a fairly culture-rich city
• is relatively safe
• arranges travel, or allows me the opportunity to travel. I want to see it all!
• immerses me in local culture 
• has a homestay or apartment option
• offers phonetics classes, and/or classes that are pertinent to my minor in tourism

I better start looking!

Thanks again for reading; I knew it would help to get it all on paper, er, screen. Leave your opinions and suggestions in the comments below!

À bientôt!