Paris: United Frances

“La France” evokes what is beautiful, timelessly romantique, and “praiseworthy,” with some perplexities in between. Thinking in terms of “United Frances” is not about imitating a younger nation; this study abroad program intends rather to take students to see this fact: "La France," singular, does not exist outside of the many regions and territories added up over the centuries, through alliances or colonial conquests, and consolidated into one indivisible nation. That is, "indivisible" with a few revolutions and independences, like the one from which Haiti emerged in 1804 that was eventually headed by an ex-slave who became general and governor, who died in a dungeon in France. Sounds epic, like the movie Gladiator, but it's true! Is it a fairy tale? You’ll see when you’re in the dungeon.

Studying in Paris, Lourdes, Bordeaux, Toulouse, La Rochelle, Britanny, Normandy, Portalier, Martinique, and in Guadeloupe, students will see and experience France in its territorial, demographic and cultural pluralities. Students will learn, for instance, that there are more active Catholics in places like Vendée than in Paris and its surrounding region, despite Victor Hugo’s Notre Dame cathedral. And there are a few Latter-day Saints throughout the country among the faithful Christians: Bordeaux is not only wine country, it's also where a special witness of Jesus Christ was born and grew up. And what should we say about gastronomy—pastries, regional dishes, and more? You’ll taste, and burn, the calories!

Much of this program is about understanding La France in its plurality, as far as the Caribbean. But it will not be a sightseeing tour. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience with a Franco-Haitian professor of French and his French family as guides and language coaches. Sign up now! You won’t regret it—you’ll see!

Click here to apply today!