USCB Students Visit and Study in Multicultural France
Opéra Square, Palais Garnier-Opéra National de Paris. May 2022 with L to R: Kari Dennis,
Ashley “Kai” Bangs, Alanna “Jules” Duterte, Jarrett Kizer, Sherry Rodriguez, Jessica
Garcia Zena, Kaylee Aiken, and Maddy Morzenti.Study abroad is a life changing opportunity, and the University of South Carolina Beaufort is thrilled that eight undergraduates were able to spend three weeks in France this summer.
As pandemic restrictions eased, Dr. Babet Villena-Alvarez, USCB’s Coordinator of International Programs and Professor of French and Global Studies, received news that USCB was selected for the French Embassy of the United States’ 2021 Transatlantic Mobility Program. This program, which aims to double the number of students from France and the United States studying abroad in each country by 2025, awarded a $10,000 grant to support USCB students in French educational experiences.
The scholarships funded by the grant— and additional money provided by the Provost Eric Skipper’s office and Beaufort College Honors (for the 3 honors students) —made a huge difference in the lives of Kaylee Aiken, Kai Bangs, Kari Dennis, Jessica Garcia Zena, Jules Duterte, Jarrett Kizer, Madelyn Morzenti, and Sherry Rodriguez. The students used the money to enroll in Maymester course “French Francophone Pluralities” and prepared to learn how immigration to France has shaped the country’s culture, politics and economy. They couldn’t wait for the opportunity to live in France for several weeks.
“I was giddy with excitement. Although I had been abroad before, I had never been to Europe, and I was excited to experience France's rich culture, cuisine, and history,” said Jarrett Kizer, Class of 2025, who is majoring in computational science and mathematics.
The group flew from Savannah to Paris on May 9, 2022, and as they settled into rooms in their Airbnb and recovered from jet lag, Dr. Alvarez dove into the content. The readings, discussion questions, homework, films and exams in the course touched on how immigrants from Algeria, Senegal and other countries have contributed to modern France. The course asks the question: “What does it means to be French?”
The USCB students were surprised at the cultural diversity they encountered throughout the country.
“I couldn’t believe that so many people in Paris are bilingual or trilingual,” said Jessica Garcia Zena, Class of 2024 and a Human Services major.
Also surprising was the French national government’s approach to battling COVID-19, which differs from the state-centered approach in the U.S. One USCB student, public health major Kaylee Aiken, began and continues to work on a Beaufort College Honors project looking at French coronavirus mitigation efforts through the lens of the country’s health priorities.
The students didn’t only spend time studying—they also visited many popular and beautiful sites. From a 16th-century vineyard to the gardens of Versailles and the catacombs of Paris, they marveled at history and artistry — and imitated the poses of many famous statues.
Day excursions outside Paris to the French cities of Bordeaux and Strasbourg, to London and to Kehl, Germany broadened the students’ European experience. And after their final exam on May 26, they scattered for short solo trips, planning to meet up again in Paris for their return to the U.S. All went smoothly for one student who visited Croatia and Venice and another who went to Greece. But the six who traveled to Scotland had a bigger adventure than they planned for: they were temporarily stranded due to airline cancellations, and crowds from a soccer championship overwhelmed ground transportation.
Dr. Villena-Alvarez took it in stride and helped them book new flights back to Paris. This was her 14th year leading USCB study abroad in France, Spain, and Costa Rica, and there is little she hasn’t seen. For her, the extra work and occasional sleepless nights required are small sacrifices for what she calls “over-the-top professorial gratification.”
“Study abroad is about the richness of details our senses capture that even the sharpest cameras cannot —the sights, sounds, fragrances, textures, tastes. And the joys these bring,” she said.
Now that they’re back in South Carolina, the eight students from this summer’s trip will serve as USCB Study Abroad Ambassadors, spreading the word on campus about all they saw and learned.
“I will tell other students to go for it — you only might get this opportunity once, so take it while it's being offered!” Garcia Zena said.