Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I hope that you are surrounded by everyone you care about this holiday season, and that Santa brought you everything you wished for. Be merry, and BE SAFE!

Flight Update + End of Semester Thoughts

Salut à tous,

I am finally done with finals and graduate school interviews, and my winter break has begun! Unbelievably, my undergraduate studies at WIU are all over - wow! I can't believe how far I've come. 

Not to be cliché, but it seems like just yesterday that I arrived at Western as an undeclared major with no real sense as to what I wanted to do with my life. Now, I'm on my way to France, and hopefully to grad school thereafter, all thanks to my WIU education and the dedicated faculty who have supported me along the way; I really can't thank them enough.

To top it all off, I finally purchased my plane ticket to Paris using the $1000 StudentUniverse travel voucher that was provided to me by CEA as an early application incentive.

My out of pocket cost was $196.24 - how's that for a deal!? 

From Paris, I will take the train to Marseille where I will be picked up by CEA staff and taken to my homestay location in Aix. Yay! Expect a more detailed post on my homestay information to come...

For the next 18 days, I just want to relax and plan for a stress-free trip; maybe I'll sleep in some, too. But don't worry, I'll keep you in the loop!

Thanks for reading,

-Jess

Back to Frugality

Hello everyone,

Being as it is the weekend before Thanksgiving break and I've got a bit of time before I absolutely must buckle down on my grad school application (don't judge me), I have decided to address an issue I have been having...  More and more, it seems, I have been wandering away from the purpose of this blog which has always been meant to demonstrate to interested student readers, through my personal story, just how much money can be saved while planning an executing a study abroad adventure.

I feel like I have let down my tiny audience by abandoning the frugality theme for less educational writing. However, in the next couple of days, I hope to redeem myself by catching up with new savings-themed posts so stay tuned!

France Update

Hello everyone,

I am so excited to tell you that I will be leaving for France in just 50 days! I can't even believe how fast time has flown by since I left Canada this past August - already 99 days ago.

Though I have been planning extensively, I still have a lot to do before I can pack my bags.

First, I need to finish my WIU online study abroad forms and attend the mandatory pre-departure meeting. More pressingly, though, I still have to apply for my French Visa now that I have gotten my CEA Packet in the mail. Unfortunately, I have to visit the French Consulate in Chicago for an in-person meeting first, and that takes time, of which I have a short supply.

My semester, though only 29 days from being finished, still consists of 2 full-length novels, 5 papers, a presentation, 2 précis, and 2 final exams. Plus scholarship essays and my still unfinished grad school application, which has been festering on the back burner for the last few months.

Also, I need to design my capsule wardrobe to avoid overpacking, as I did for my trip to Canada. I just feel like I'm running out of time... Still worst of all, I have had no time for naps. How will I even go on?!

Fortunately, I have an amazing goal to work towards so I will continue to go go go until I can meet up with my new classmates in Paris before our program starts. I just cannot even wait, and will keep you updated on what is happening until then!

For a more in-depth look at what goes into the pre-departure hustle, check out my Real Advice for Study Abroad column on just that, here.

Thanks for reading! 

Substitute Teaching

Bonjour toute le monde!

Yesterday I played substitute teacher for 2 French classes while my professor was away. For the 300-level, I just proctored an exam. But for the 100-level, I was able to make some cute little handouts and lead my own lesson. I had a great time!

Above is a rather dramatized version of my family tree. Lucky for the students, I didn't have enough room to define all of the complex relationships in my family, nor list all of my cousins. However, I was able to provide a pretty good overview of the vocabulary from their book. I also provided them with a vocabulary reference page that they could keep in their binders.

First, we went over the above list of vocabulary by way of call and return. Then, I went through the rows and had each student read a vocabulary word out loud until we reached the end of the list. This way, we could work on their individual pronunciation and liaison between consonants and vowels. 

After, each student drew their family trees and wrote descriptions of 2 family members each, using the vocabulary they have already learned such as likes and dislikes, physical and personality descriptors. Everyone did such a good job!

As per usual, as soon as I think I have my future mapped out, I find a new interest... Hopefully I'll be able to sub a little more sometime so I can decide if I should go back for my teaching license after grad school.

Thanks for reading!

In Lieu of Gifts...

Hi everyone,

The holiday season is just around the corner! Instead of material gifts, I would much prefer a modest donation toward my study abroad fees. I am still quite behind, and every single cent helps. I would really appreciate any contribution you can make!

To donate, please click the photo above to be redirected to Paypal.

Thank you for your support! 

Best,

Mapleliciousness

Bonjour mes amis,

In my French Literature of the 20th Century class, while reading Proust, we have been talking about the strong ties between the 5 senses and our memories. What we decided is that above all others, taste and smell were the two most influential senses and that a whiff of a familiar odor, or a morsel of a once forgotten flavor can knock loose a tidal wave of emotions or experiences from our past even if they have been cached away for long periods of time.

I would absolutely have to agree. In fact, ever since I have been back from Canada, I have been a complete maple junky in what seems like a pathetic subconscious attempt to keep my experience in the forefront of my memory. I just keep craving it.

The weirdest part is, I didn't even really have many maple goodies while abroad, save for a few (delectably addicting) maple sandwich cookies and some hand-tapped syrup with my Couchsurfing hosts. Though I did sniff my $100 bills a lot... I guess I just associate maple with Canada based on the popular stereotype. Either way, je suis accro!

It all started when I found a maple-pumpkin candle at a local store upon coming home. The scent was just so fantastic - sweet, warm, familiar, and comforting. I burned it almost completely up until I replaced it with Scentsy's "Maple Butter" bars in a warmer. 

Next, maple extract and syrup was flavoring my coffee, topping my ice cream, and dripping through my mind. Yum! I guess, is it could be worse, though, right? As far as addictions go, I'll take maple over anything...

What scents/tastes bring you back to pleasant memories? Let me know in the comments!

Au revoir!

Joyeux Anniversaire à Moi-Même + Reverse Culture Shock

Bonjour bonjour,

Today is my 21st birthday, though it's a little anticlimactic.

More strikingly, today marks that I've been "home" from Canada for 3 whole weeks. As expected, though, it's taking some time to fall back into my "normal" routine.

I've seen my family, started school, gone back to work, and tried to readjust to life as it was, but I still can't shake this feeling of dissatisfaction, angst and wholehearted loss that seems to be steming from being away from Paris and the friends who surrounded me in the dorms, missing the hustly-bustly Moncton atmosphere, and speaking God-awful English all the time, (a punishable offense less than a month ago).

I feel like I'm in shock, and no one including my friends and family quite knows how to react to it.

In the meantime, I can't help but ask what keeps (most) Americans from Smiling like (most) Canadians, and why, just WHY, are there no decent sushi places in Macomb?! Reverse homesickness certainly exists, and I am swimming in the midst of its awful funk...

Luckily, some insightful Leathernecks of years past created Western's Ambassadors for Study Abroad (WASA): an organization that provides a place for study abroad alumni to share their stories with fellow international education enthusiasts to help them cope with the stress of "re-entry".

As WASA's current President, I can't wait to encourage open lines of communication within the group, and to create as many opportunities as possible for members to share these valuable sentiments, as well as memories, photos and stories of any kind. This will help future travelers understand, and prepare for the inevitable pressure of coming home, and should this help alumni come to terms with reverse culture shock, and realize that these feelings are normal and temporary, and that they are not alone.

What were your sentiments upon returning home from a trip, or study abroad adventure? Tell me below in the comments.

Thanks for reading.

Thanks Dad :D

Bonjour tout le monde,

Today I'd like to take some time to thank my Dad, the Haggle-Master, the supreme finder of good deals.

Dad and me, 1992

He has always known where to pick up anything we need at less than retail, and is part of the reason I started this blog - to prove I've got the deal making mojo myself...

Anyway, he just surprised me with a Nikon Coolpix L24 camera with a 16GB SD card that he found at a pawn shop!

Retail Price: $114.99, Dad's Price: $35

It has taken wonderful pictures so far, and will be great to take to Canada. I can't wait to use it more!

This just goes to show that something doesn't have to be brand-spankin-new or right out of the package to be useful. Everyone should consider purchasing second-hand, in my opinion. Even without a tight budget it just makes sense.

Have you ever scored big at a pawn shop or garage sale? Let's discuss in the comments...

Merci d'avoir lu!

Canada Capsule Wardrobe Part 2: Outfits!

Bonjour tout le monde,

Below are my 43 days worth of outfits, plus 6 weekend outfits and 7 days of swim/beachwear, all created from my one suitcase Canada capsule wardrobe. No two are the same!

Outfits 1-14

Outfits 15-28

Outfits 29-42

Outfit 43,  6 'Going Out' Outfits & 7 Beach Outfits

Even though I don't need a different outfit everyday, variety and choices are really important to me. Plus, being as I usually pack much much too heavy, like an entire carry on suitcase for a weekend trip, I really feel accomplished fitting 56 winning combinations into such a small bag. 

What are your tips on packing light? Tell me in the comments!

Thanks for reading!

One Suitcase: Canada Capsule Wardrobe

Bonjour mes amis,

As I have told you in the last couple posts, I've been planning my Canada packing list for several weeks now.

To make choosing outfits for myself while abroad (and packing a single carry on bag) easier, I've put together a succinct yet well-rounded capsule wardrobe that can take me from class, to the beach, to volunteering, to a night out with ease.

Most importantly, each piece folds small and can match with multiple other items for maximum efficiency. Here's what I'm taking:

1. white eyelet sundress
2. pink shirt dress w/ collar
3. black shirt dress w/ collar
4. bicycle print sun dress
5. black and white striped tank dress
6. sheer pleated black high-waist skirt
7. lightweight cargo capris
8. khaki shorts
9. dark cuffed denim shorts
10. black bodycon mini skirt
11. long high-waist blue and white geometric print skirt
12. skinny dark wash jeans (double as capris)
13. black 3/4 sleeve waisted blazer
14. black 3/4 sleeve 2-button cardi
15. navy blue long sleeve cardi
16. camel long sleeve cardi
17. bicycle sprint racerback tank top
18. smooth black tank top
19. white animal print collared top
20. smooth white tank top
21. red t-shirt
22. smooth oatmeal tank top
A. stars and stripes bikini

B. pink bikini top

C. aqua fringe bikini top

D. black heart bandeau and hot short bikini 

E. black and white polka dot tankini top

F. pink and white chevron scarf 
G.navy blue sailboat infinity scarf 
H. blue and orange flower square silk scarf
I. sheer black ascot

J. blue and white indigo dyed silk scarf
K. red, blue and white fish rectangle scarf
L. black and white polka dot skinny scarf

M. grey bicycle print pashmina

N. grey Cindy Tote shoulder bag

O. ivory cap toe flats

P. black Converse

Q. neutral flat sandals

R. black braided sandals

S. tan oxfords

T. brown skinny belt

U. yellow skinny belt

V. small tan crossbody bag

W. black wide waist belt

X. camel classic trench coat

Y. leopard print stockings

Z. black polka dot carry on suitcase and Easy Breezy Tote shoulder bag

Adding color and variety with scarves allowed me to stick with a neutral-based color palette to maximize mix-and-matchability and keep shoe choices to a (kind of) minimum. ;) I can make over 50 different outfits, and everything fits in one rollie bag!

I hope this inspires you to limit your luggage next time you fly! Stay tuned to see some outfit possibilites next time.

À bientôt!

My Packing List: Part 2

Hey again,

As promised, here's my madness method of packing toiletries for a trip. Keep in mind, choosing toiletries is completely personal, and this is simply my way of picking what to bring. If you're sane, you'll use a bit more scrutiny than I do...

Here we go!

First, I go through my daily routine and note what essential products come into play at each step:

• Wake up/shower time: toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, loofah, pumice stone, bath gloves, razor & blades, towel, face washcloth, face wash, toner, acne treatment, spot treatment, Q-tips, cotton balls, deodorant, brush/comb.

• Make up time: face lotion w/ SPF, BB cream, concealer, eye shadow, eye liner, mascara, blush

• Hair time: hair brush/comb, leave in conditioner, hair gel, hair spray, dry shampoo, mini flat iron, headbands, mini hair ties, bobby pins

• Bed time: lotion, baby wipes (for makeup)

Next, I think about the things I use less often, but still need on occasion, such as medicine. 

• Other/misc./meds: tweezers, perfume, sunscreen, nail file, nail clippers, nail polish, polish remover, hand sanitizer, pain pills, allergy pills, band-aids (for blisters), lint roller, dryer sheets, 

After this, I toss out anything that can be easily picked up at my destination, or is too bulky to take such as sunscreen. Then I go through and rebottle anything above 3.4 oz., which is the size limit for carry on liquids, gels and aerosols. This time, I reused hotel shampoo and conditioner bottles, and tiny hand sanitizer bottles to pack some of my own products.

Once I've made sure all of the lids are tightly screwed on (and taped if they're loose), the liquids go straight into a clear divider in my makeup case (1 quart, as per TSA regs.).

Whatever doesn't fit gets abandoned in order of how easily it can be reacquired at point B, and the solid stuff goes into another section of my toiletry kit to save precious space!

Bam. So so simple.

Next time I'll show you my capsule wardrobe for the trip.

Au revoir!

My Packing List: My Method Part 1

Hello all!

Today I'm going to ramble about how I personally create a trip-specific packing list for clothes, shoes and accessories. This is the method that works for me, not universally, so try to be open-minded and enjoy!

First, I consider the length of the trip and THE SIZE LIMITS OF MY BAGGAGE. This gives me a guideline as to how many pieces of clothing to bring. In this particular case, I'll be away for 43 days, but I still need to be able to fit everything into one carry on bag.

Second, I look up the weather for my destination. During my stay in Moncton, the weather could be anywhere from low 60s to mid 80s, with the occasional rain shower. This let me know to bring a variety of clothes to fit different weather and temperature scenarios such as a rain coat, tank tops, and items that can be (un)layered such as cardigans and scarves.

Third, I list out all of the things I will be doing while I'm away from home.

• Going to class
• Walking and exploring
• Volunteering
• Going to the pool and beach
• Going out at night
• Attending a welcome dinner and completion ceremony

This helps me decide what situation-specific stuff needs to make it onto my final list, such as comfy shoes, sandals a bathing suit (or 4), and a mix of casual and dressy pieces such as a blazer and versatile dresses.

Fourth, I evaluate all of the clothes I already have AHEAD OF TIME, try everything on, and set aside what I think will work for the trip (including PJs, undershirts, and undergarments) onto one side of my closet. I then narrow the core pieces down to a neutral color palette. For Canada, I chose black, white, blue and tan. Bolder colors can be added later with statement pieces and accessories.

The 'Canada half' of my closet

Over the course of a few weeks, I move things back and fourth from that side of the closet based on several factors:

• Comfort: Do I feel confident while wearing it? Does it fit comfortably?
• Flexibility: Does it fit my color palette? Does it match with several other items including common pairs of shoes? Can it be layered?
• Packability: Does it roll or fold small? Is it wrinkle resistant? Does it require no special care?
• Personality: Does it reflect who I am as a person? Does it give off the kind of impression I would like to emit?

In this stage, I pre-pack at least one to insure everything will fit in my luggage.

Fifth, with the above rules in mind, I make a list of the other essential items and accessories I need to supplement what I already have to complete my trip-worthy wardrobe. Then, I shop! Still, I try to work around my neutral  base colors, adding pops of color in the form of light scarves.

Finally, I try everything on and create outfits! The less flexible items can be eliminated in this step, leaving only the most mixable pieces. Then, I take pictures of everything so I can remember what to put together when I'm away (and of course share with you all!).

There you have it! Stick around for more on my packing methods.

Until then, tell me how you choose what clothes to take when you travel in the comments below.

See ya!

Calendar Update

Bonjour tout le monde,

I've added a few dates to the calendar tab.

To have a look, click below.



À bientôt!

C'est L'été!

Bonjour mes amis,

It is officially summer, and I can finally breath again! No more classes, online course work, or internship hours to get in the way of my relaxing... ;)

However, I have made a few goals that I would like to accomplish before departing to Canada next month. Here they are in no particular order:

• Get all moved in and comfortable in our new house, so I don't leave any craziness or clutter behind
• Read back into the 'Tightwad Abroad' archives and make all the updates I promised to make when I first started blogging (Sorry guys...!)
• Spend lots of time with Matt so I can try not to miss him so much :/
• Actually practice my French so I'm not crushed by the 'No English' rule on the Moncton campus
• Reconnect with family members who I haven't devoted adequate time to this semester
• List all my old textbooks on Amazon
• Continue to sell things I don't need on Ebay so I don't go broke while I'm away
• Pack AHEAD OF TIME so I don't end up bringing 4 suitcase worth of stuff I won't use

Essentially I'm going to be pretty busy up until the day I leave... Luckily I'm super motivated to get things done and out of the way so I can concentrate on my studies an having a good time when I go away!

P.S. CONGRATS GRADUATES! I am so proud of all of you who worked your butt off in pursuit of your dreams and a higher quality of life. You are an inspiration! Good luck in your future endeavors and take care of your grown up a** selves!

xoxoxo

More Canada Details

Bonjour,

On Tuesday we had an Skype meeting with some of the folks at the Université de Moncton. Below are some of the highlights of what we found out about the program!

• There will be approximately 100 students from around Canada and the U.S. studying at the Université during the length of our stay.

• Moncton is approximately 40% french speaking. However, French is 100% required and enforced on campus, even in the dorms.

• On June 30th is when we register, get our dorm keys and attend a welcome dinner. August 1st we take our language placement test, and August 2nd, classes begin.

• Each week day we will have class from 8:00am-11:45am. 3 times per week we will have work shops and on weekends we will have culture activities!

• Our dorms are single rooms/studios with a bathroom, mini fridge and a microwave. 

• Weekday lunches will be provided in the cafeteria, while other meals will be covered by a weekly stipend which can be used at restaurants and at the grocery store.

• There is a mall about 10 minutes away from campus!

Though it's still 2 months off, the suspense is killing me! I can't wait to find out more!

À bientôt!

Decisions, Decisions Part 2: J'irai à Aix!

Bonjour tout le monde,

As I told you in Decisions, Decisions Part 1, I have been looking for the parfait study abroad program to fulfill my wish list for spring 2014.

Ideally, it should:

• be fairly affordable
• be in a culture-rich city 
• be safe 
• allow me the opportunity to travel, and/or provide excursion opportunities 
• immerse me in local culture 
• have a homestay or apartment option 
• offer phonetics classes, and/or classes that are pertinent to my minor in tourism 

To my delight, I think I've found everything I want and need in CEA's French Language and Culture Program in Aix-en-Provence!

Lavendre - Provence

4.9/5.0 student reviews on StudyAbroad101 earned it the titles 2012 #1 Study Abroad Rankings winner, #2 "Foodie City", and #3 "Top Academic Experience".

Let me show you how amazing it is!

Aix-Marseille Univesité

 Aix-en-Provence has a Mediterranean climate with 300 days of sunshine per year. It boasts historical charm, a large student population, adequate night life and a large farmer's market that happens each and every day.

Fruits de Mer - Aix-en-Provence Marché

Being as it is a direct program, as opposed to an exchange like some of the other programs I looked at, it has an all-inclusive program fee like AIFS Cannes or Paris. Below are the included amenities:

• Personalized Advising/planning assistance/on-site staff support 
• Discounts on travel through StudentUniverse Travel Partner Program & Ticket 13 Bus discount 
• Airport reception 
• Tuition at Aix-Marseille Université (up to 18 semester hours) 
• Two to three Excursions/overnight trips
• Culture Activities: Visits to farms, the lavender fields, gourmet tastings, language exchanges, etc. 
• Social activities: weekly happy hour, afternoon and evening activities for students
• Volunteer opportunities: tutoring French school-age kids, and more upon request
• Cell phone plan!!! 
• University Gym membership 
• Housing (Shared apartment)

The above package is $11,795. Much cheaper than Cannes or Paris. However, it does not include:

Even still, this extremely well-rounded semester totals around $21,295 at most: over $5,000 less than AIFS Cannes even before extra travel and spending money.

What a victory! 

I will keep you all updated as I learn more.

Thanks for reading!

Scientia Mutua Mundi

Hi again everyone,

I am so very pleased to announce that I have been excepted into the WIU Eta Epsilon Chapter of Phi Beta Delta (ΦΒΔ)!

ΦΒΔ is an international honor society dedicated to recognizing scholarly achievement in international education. I can't wait to be inducted so I can begin networking with other members!

Have a good day!

Oh, Canada!

Bonjour tout le monde,

I have just been informed that I've been accepted to participate in a 6-week French Immersion summer program at the Universite de Moncton in New Brunswick, Canada!

Better yet, my tuition, room and board will be covered by a huge FIPSE Grant. All I have to pay for is airfare and personal expenses. 

More information still to come...

À bientôt!

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!