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“London is a riddle. Paris is an explanation.” ― G.K. Chesterton

In my last post, I talked about the different myths and facts related to study abroad and why everyone should take advantage of the opportunities available to them as a College of Liberal Arts student at Purdue University. In this post, I want to focus on a study abroad program I did the summer after my freshman year, the Global Studies in London & Paris maymester.

This maymester is a great one for Liberal Arts majors because the classes you take while abroad can count for either the “Other Cultures” or the “Global Perspectives” core requirements. Also, while some Study Abroad programs require that you be at least a junior before applying, the Global Studies in London & Paris program only requires that you be at least a sophomore standing, which means that you can participate as soon as you have passed your freshman year!

Dr. Marzec is a brilliant, but quirky professor who leads the trip along with one of his graduate students. When I went on the program in 2012, London was the only city involved in the trip (they added Paris the next year). While I can’t speak to the level of awesomeness of the Paris portion of the program, I am able to sing praises for the London portion. On this program, you get the opportunity to do all of the tourist-y English things that you’ve ever wanted to do. These include eating fish and chips, riding the London Eye, seeing a play in the Globe Theater, messing with the guards with the funny hats outside Westminster Abbey, riding the Tube, drinking tea, visiting the museums to see things like the actual Rosetta Stone and a napkin with handwritten Beatles lyrics, running around Stonehenge, and all while earning credits towards your graduation and learning about the history and the culture of the places you’re in.

Have questions or want more information about this trip? Leave a comment below, talk to your advisor, or contact the Study Abroad Office!

Mary

Professional Writing, March 2015