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Participant Testimony

Participant Testimony

"This trip has been a once in a lifetime experience for me. I was able to be completely open to trying new foods I would have not tried previous. I was also able to meet great people and experience a country from several viewpoints." - Jenna Walsh, Dietetics

"Going to France was one of the best choices I've ever made for both my future career and my life. We got a personal look at several traditional French food products and how they are made. No one else gets an experience like this, and I feel lucky to have gone." - Anonymous

"First of all, this program is awesome. I have learned so much in this week. I become more aware of sustainability around me. I also gained knowledge about the history and the culture of France. Last but not least, I got to meet many great people that potentially could be my role model in the future."

"This study abroad really helped me to learn more about French cuisine and French culture. I enjoyed seeing the sights and exploring the French country side as well. A trip I will for sure never forget!" - Anonymous

"On this trip, I also have many new friends. From seven other girls in the program, two great and helpful professors, and those new people that make this trip become more valuable and interesting, like Pasquier, Bruno, and Helene. Without all these people, this trip will not be the same. I learned a lot from them. Some of the people reminds me that world is not small and there are a huge number of great and nice people out there."

"The last fact I wanted to research was regarding the golden gates outside of the palace – are they real, solid gold or just plating?  I learned that the gates are covered in thick gold plating that was actually torn down during the French Revolution but restored in 2008 (Razzano, 2013).  According to National Geographic, it cost the French government 8 million dollars to repair!"

"It is definitely hard to determine the most surprising activity or event that I experienced in France.  It is not that I was overly surprised, but the fact that I had never been to Europe made it a whole new experience to me.  I truly enjoyed every activity and day we had on the trip and learned a lot about food production, the French culture, and history.  I guess if I would have to choose one event/activity that surprised me the most it would be the Palace of Versailles.

"Inside the palace of Versailles, I was shocked.  I think my mouth opened wide upon entering each room inside the palace.  The detail and excessive decoration was unlike anything I have ever seen.  There was honestly not one inch of wall, ceiling, or floor that was left untouched or undecorated.  It was hard to capture everything in each room because there was so much to look at."

"Overall, the Palace of Versailles was truly surprising and amazing to me.  As I mentioned above, however, it was hard to pick one surprising event because everyday of the trip was surprising.  In addition to the Palace, other architecture “feats” that amazed me were Mont St. Michel, the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triumph, and Notre Dame.  I truly appreciate both professors who planned such a great trip and want to thank you for a great study abroad." - Razanno L. 2013

"When I look back on the week I spent in France I still can’t believe how much I learned in such a short period of time. Every moment of the trip was a learning experience whether we knew it or not. We didn’t just learn about educational things, we learned about a whole new culture through hands on experience. Some of us even learned some valuable life lessons. When I sat down to write this paper it was hard to narrow it down to one surprising part of the trip.

"This trip was one of the most amazing experiences of my life so far and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It was a trip I have been dreaming about since I took a French class in 2nd grade. Everything I learned during that week I will be able to use in the future. Without the hands on and in person experience this trip offered I would have never understood the concept of sustainability as well as I do now."

"This trip is also my first trip to really learn and become interested in the history of Europe. Helene, our guide, really did a great job becoming a tour guide for us. She explained everything, especially when we are in Museum de Louvre. She made me aware of the beauty of art works. My favorite artwork in Museum de Louvre is the picture of Coronation of Napoleon. When I saw this picture, I felt the glory of it. I felt like I was in the picture. So amazing."

"This trip meant getting out of my comfort zone by being away from family, friends, and a reliable means of communication with them. I learned a lot about another culture and how sheltered we are from common dangers in Ames, Iowa. I also learned about the importance of teamwork, taking care of those in your group, and how rewarding it is to accomplish something that may seem small, such as ordering something completely in French, finding your way on the metro, or realizing you can read a sentence in French on a street sign." - Anonymous

"Other thing about the culture of French people that I adore is they respect food so much. When I went to my buddy’s apartment for dinner. Nadia (my buddy) expect us to sit on the table. She said that French people never sit on the floor to eat. Then the fact that they have many traditions about having a perfect meal (4 hours meal with drink, appetizer, entree, dessert, etc) shows that they really care about how to enjoy their meal optimally. Additionally, they also have a lot of coffee break. They enjoy their lives. This is what I love from France, their life seems always beautiful."

"Other than sustainability another thing that surprised me was how much history I was constantly surrounded by. Mont St Michel, the old ship yards in Nantes, The Castle of the Duke of Brittany, Versailles, The Louvre, the Arc de Triumph, and everywhere else we visited amazed me. It was crazy to think that some of the places I went to were older than anything in the United States by a large number of years.  Every place had a story or significance that was fascinating. Sightseeing and learning about all of the land marks was one of my top favorite parts about the trip. It was amazing to see the sights in real life. One moment I will never forget is when we turned the corner and saw the Eiffel Tower for the first time."

"Overall, we went to 4 companies; Lactalis, Pasquier, Cointreau, and Winery. From all this companies, I notice the same thing, sustainability. All of them know that people expect them to maintain the sustainability of the environment around their companies. Due to this reason, each company shows their own way to reach their sustainability goals. My most favorite company is Pasquier. I learned a lot from this big company, from production to sustainability. They explained that they always gather their food waste for the pig feed. They locate their company near the consumer so that they can save the amount of gas they use for distributing the products."

"The most obvious surprising fact was how important sustainability and protecting the environment was in France."

"The construction of Versailles still amazes me – from the golden gates at the outside, to each and every room, and the gardens behind.  I learned a lot about its’ history as well.  It underwent multiple “building campaigns” around 1680 to 1700 during the reign of Louis XIV.  Later additions to the palace were ordered under the reign of the monarchs that followed.  I cannot believe how such a massive architectural project was built so many years ago and still stands today.  Furthermore, the cost of constructing the palace must have been tremendous.  After returning home (and having internet access), I researched more about the cost of construction.  The Palace was initially meant to be an occasional home for Louis XIV and early funding supposedly came from the king.  One of the most costly parts of the inside was the silver furniture, however, it is difficult to determine the exchange of what the cost would be today.  Another interesting fact I learned was that all materials that went into construction and decoration of the palace were manufactured in France.  This is because Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the post of finance minister, wanted Versailles to be a “showcase” of France.  If this fact is actually the case, I didn’t even know at the time that our visit to Versailles kind of related to the sustainability aspect of our trip!"