Studying in France as Americans: Valentine’s Love and Online Opportunities
The shortest month of the year has come and gone, and it definitely felt brief! Even so, Jalen and I made the most of the month of February as American master’s degree students at the Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne studying Logistics and Public Law. Read on to get caught up on how we spent the last few weeks.
Winter break began on the 12th, but it didn’t feel like much of a break at all! Jalen works full time during every school vacation period as he is completing his degree en alternance, and I was busy plugging away at my schoolwork. Even though our days were mostly occupied with these obligations, we never missed an opportunity to relax together in the evenings by taking walks around Reims and cooking meals together.
After stagnating a bit, both Jalen and I got back on track with our long-term assignments this month – Jalen’s completing a project at his alternance, and I’m writing a master’s thesis. Balancing coursework, job obligations, hobbies, personal matters, and our respective year-long assignments has proved challenging, but not totally impossible. After nearly six years in higher education, maintaining our motivation is key to our continued success.
We knew that celebrating Valentine’s Day on a Monday would be next to impossible for us, so we planned a fun-filled day on February 13th to commemorate eight years of being each other’s valentine. Even with our minuscule budget, we were able to pack the day with romantic outings. We hung out at a park we hadn’t yet explored, went ice skating, took pictures at a photo booth, and watched a movie. We appreciate how affordable life is in Reims and are glad that we had the opportunity to celebrate our love.
On February 14th, our alma mater, the University of Mary Washington, published a story about us. We are grateful for the years we spent at UMW and the opportunities our bachelor’s degrees have afforded us, so we are honored that our university wanted to highlight our story in this way. To learn more about our relationship, our undergrad experience, and how it all ties in with what we do on The Francofile, give the article a read!
On the topic of UMW, Jalen and I were able to participate in two online zoom sessions this month put on by our alma mater. The first was a Q&A conference about the war in Ukraine with a professor of Political Science and International Affairs who we know and respect. We believe that staying up to date with and analyzing global affairs are both important, and we jumped at the opportunity to do so with a professional. The second was a lighter meeting held by UMW Modern Languages and Literatures that allowed us to catch up with other alumni, chat with professors, and get updates about the department. Though the increased usage of video communication is a direct result of the devastating pandemic, we are thankful to have the chance to take part in these online events from abroad.
This month, there have been a few changes in the COVID-19 measures in France. For starters, the health pass required to drink at bars, eat at restaurants, and enter other public places in France can no longer be attained with a negative COVID-19 test. Instead, proof of two vaccinations and a booster shot is necessary. Furthermore, on the last day of February, the indoor mask mandate was partially lifted – If a health pass is required to enter an establishment, a mask is no longer obligatory. Jalen and I are thankful to be healthy and encourage everyone to continue to observe protective measures.
How did you spend the month of February? Did you celebrate Valentine’s Day this year? Are zoom calls a regular occurence in your life? Let us know in a comment!
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Check out our Valentine’s Day vlog!
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