A month in Paris? Je rve de Paris!!

Bonjour de Paris!!

Study abroad for one month in Paris?! Something I’ve always considered a fantasy, but never considered as a realistic possibility.

Between working {full-time, diligently, passionately & enthusiastically} & heading straight to UTA {refer to first bracket}, spending time with friends and family, and finding [some] time for the other zillions of things I love, I’ve had the assumption that all the really exciting adventures are just postponed until I graduate! {But hey, that’s just around the river bend!}

My major at the University of Texas at Arlington is International Business in French. I have absolutely always been passionate about language: literature, grammar, spelling, vocabulary – a few of the things that make me smile. It just so happened that this strength of mine extended past my native English passion and incidentally seeped into my major, which combines my passion for business with my aptitude toward language. ?

My French class was informed of a study abroad program in Paris for 30 days {May 29 - June 28}. Once the seed was planted, the obsession flourished.

I was blessed with an incredible job at an amazing company. I am the Junior Staff Accountant at May Group International, and I work for and with some extremely intelligent people!! My boss is an inspiration to me, as she is a process and systems consultant, and she is giving me so much invaluable experience!!! She and the rest of the company are THRILLED about this incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

I intend to graduate before Summer 2014, so I didn't want to consider "next year" as a possibility!! {Life is short and I'm all about living it and loving it to the fullest!!} I know I would regret missing out on this opportunity - it is the most amazing, beneficial, convenient, and doable opportunity I could have imagined!! The availability of classes for night students at UTA has never been particularly convenient for my work schedule, and summer classes pertaining to my major in particular are even harder to come across. This program has me completing two upper-level classes about French histor, culture, literature, art & architecture, all while experiencing it first-hand!!!

This trip will amaze me and bring a whole new perspective to my life. My first journey out of this country {!!!!} will be to FRANCE!!!! I want to be completely submerged in the French language. I want to have to access different parts of my brain, to be quick on my feet; to hear the beautiful langue de l'amour spoken natively; to develop my accent; to utilize my MAD CONJUGATION SKILLS; to burst my self-consciousness; to learn to express my personality, thoughts and expressions; to soak up the amazing sights, to capture the irreplaceable memories with incredible photos; to have the most epic experience imaginable!!!

It is extremely short notice! But doesn’t that, in a way, make it that much more exciting?

The full amount of the trip as estimated by the Program leaders is about $4000, not including tuition for the two classes. It starts with my passport (the beginning of a new chapter!), and also includes airfare, food, & a substantial amount of additional required program costs.

I was also blessed with an incredible option that REALLY made this trip possible. I have been taking my French classes with a friend of mine, and her French husband's family lives just outside Paris. They have consented to let Jenny and I stay at their house the entire month, free of charge!! {This amounted to saving $2300 for lodging!!) I am so excited for this opportunity to stay with an authentic French family, and to truly be submerged in the culture for an entire month!! I can't wait to learn all that they have to teach me.

I am so blown away with gratitude for any and every amount of help! I appreciate everyone's support more than anything!!! I want to give back something special to anyone who contributes to show how much every bit of help means to me! The amazing people who donate up to $20 will receive a custom-made card which I will create upon my return from Paris!!! Anyone who donates in excess of $20 will receive a custom-made and unique gift, which I will create upon my return from Paris!!! As excited as I am about Paris, I'm also really excited to make these gifts for those who help me make this trip happen!!