Studying in France as Americans: New Discoveries and Sunny Days
Spring has sprung here in Reims, and yet another month has passed us by as American master’s degree students at the Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne. Jalen and I are inching closer to completing our graduate studies in Logistics and Public Law and are excited to share with you what we’ve been doing recently here in France.
Would you believe that even after living in Reims for a year and seven months, there are still some attractions in the city we haven’t visited? The Basilique Sainte-Clotilde remained elusive because it’s rarely open to the public, but we finally managed to get there for a guided tour at the beginning of the month. The Byzantine architecture and impressive reliquary made it totally worth the wait!
We also spent some time at Moklair Coffee Roasters, a specialty coffee shop that opened in Reims at the end of February. Though we certainly aren’t coffee snobs, the delicious brews and comfortable atmosphere impressed us so much that we even came back to attend their fun crossover event with cookie company Sucré Chantilly.
Of course, this month wasn’t all entertaining tourism and yummy snacks. We are master’s degree students, after all! I personally had multiple demanding assignments to complete, including two 30-minute oral presentations. I presented the European Union’s climate change policy for my first exposé and contemporary threats to democracy in the United States for my second. These presentations combined with working regularly on my master’s thesis kept me really busy!
Jalen’s classes officially ended on March 12th, meaning that he spent the latter half of the month working daily at his internship as an alternant. Despite being done with classes, one of his professors assigned a project that wasn’t due until the end of the month, meaning that he’s been writing a lengthy paper discussing last-mile logistics when he gets home from work each day.
As the weeks of March went on, the gray skies of Reims gave way to warm, sunny days. After adjusting to rainy winter weather, sitting outside in the heat feels so unusual! Besides the slight sunburn I got on my nose and cheeks, we are both enjoying everything about the sunshiny days of spring.
Finally, the COVID-19 restrictions in France have once again changed. For now, the health pass is no longer needed in any establishment, and masks are only required in public transport and in medical settings. We have personally continued to wear our masks in crowded places, and are concerned as the COVID cases are once again trending upward in France.
All in all, we are keeping our noses to the grindstone and doing our best to enjoy our free time. Is the weather warming up where you live? How did you keep yourself busy this month? Let us know in a comment!
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Take a tour of the Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, our university in France!
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