For many college students, the concept of ‘home’ is fluid, and being sent home from university has proved stressful and confusing. At school, ‘going home’ can mean walking back to your room on campus, or getting on a plane to visit your parents. When studying abroad, I was excited to come ‘home’ to my hostContinue reading “College Dorms, Host Families, and With Parents-Where is ‘Home’?”
Author Archives: Julianna Hill
Protest Culture in France and the U.S.
Our first week in France, we heard about and saw multiple protests and strikes throughout Grenoble. In the following two months, protests and strikes became almost a normal occurrence, with students protesting outside of the DLST and handing out flyers, a group of teachers striking and blocking the tram from getting to campus effectively cancellingContinue reading “Protest Culture in France and the U.S.”
COVID-19 and Systemic Issues in the U.S.
Due to the spread of COVID-19, much of the U.S. has put social distancing measures into effect, closing schools and businesses, and advising against social gatherings or domestic travel of any kind. Unfortunately, the pandemic has placed huge stress on an already strained country, showcasing the flaws in many vital systems. Essential to the survivalContinue reading “COVID-19 and Systemic Issues in the U.S.”
Transportation and Fare Evasion in France
One of the things I most appreciated in Grenoble was the ease of travel. I was lucky enough to live in the hyper-centre and could walk to most places, or take the tram just a couple of stops. My host parents rode bikes or walked, which seemed typical for a Grenoble resident. Compared to theContinue reading “Transportation and Fare Evasion in France”
From Laid-Back France to Unending ‘Coronacation’: A New England Need for Structure
As we adapted to life in France, many of us noted how much more time we seemed to have, how the lack of homework and intensity in classes sometimes made us feel like we weren’t even taking classes. Compared to academic life at BU, UGA was a breath of fresh air, though sometimes surreal. Then,Continue reading “From Laid-Back France to Unending ‘Coronacation’: A New England Need for Structure”
Why Americans Are Starting So Many Projects–And Haven’t Before Now
As people around the world isolate themselves to slow the spread of COVID-19, many find themselves with an unexpected abundance of time, and are starting projects or learning new skills to fill the days. Bread baking, gardening, painting, embroidery, and mask-sewing are just some of the projects isolated people have begun to take up inContinue reading “Why Americans Are Starting So Many Projects–And Haven’t Before Now”
France vs The U.S. on Flattening the Curve
My last full day in France was spent in a nearly abandoned Lyon. My girlfriend and I went to Marché St Antoine where vendors wore masks and passed food and money back and forth in gloved hands–an irony not lost on us as we ate our bread by the river. On midnight the night before,Continue reading “France vs The U.S. on Flattening the Curve”
Attending A French University
Before coming to France, I had been told many things about the educational aspect of the program: there’s no homework, you won’t know what your grades are, everything is based off exams, there’s two vacations… But nothing really gave me an accurate expectation for UGA or the educational system we entered. The first shock thatContinue reading “Attending A French University”
Micromégas: My time in a French band
Before coming to France, I had emailed Céline about the possibility of playing music in Grenoble, as I could bring my clarinet but it didn’t seem as if the University had a music program. Luckily, I got placed with a musical family. My host mom plays the accordion and practices every night in addition toContinue reading “Micromégas: My time in a French band”
The Importance of Family in France
La Famille: une mère, un père, des enfants, et peut-être les grand-parents. My first week in France, my host parents asked me quite a bit about my family–and told me about theirs. My host parents have three adult children, two daughters who live elsewhere in France, and a son in Grenoble. On my first night,Continue reading “The Importance of Family in France”
Julianna Hill 