The Omnibus

Issue date: 5/13/04 Section: Feature

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French films portray towns where people sit outside in an outdoor café enjoying freshly baked scones. The scenes are so perfect that the audience is convinced the filmmaker is merely romanticizing the true image. Senior Kristin Baer was able to experience the truth of the films last semester when she lived in Aix en Provence, France. Aix en Provence is a town with cobblestone streets, complete with open-air markets and outdoor cafes. Baer's apartment had large windows that looked out on the streets where people would walk into the markets. "'Quaint' is a good word to describe it," Baer said.

Kristin Baer (second from left) takes a study break at her favorite cafe.

Baer participated in a study abroad program with Cultural Experiences Abroad. While in France, she attended the University of Aix-Marseille III, attending classes with international students. "I would walk into the computer lab and hear Chinese, German, English, of course, French and all sorts of other languages," Baer said. "That was amazing because I really love language."

During her semester abroad, Baer had two roommates, an American, Gigi, and a French girl, Clara. "It was fun, because I still got to retain a lot of American style in English, but our French roommate only spoke French with us, even though she knew English, so it challenged me to learn a lot," Baer said.

Before the trip to France, Baer had two years of French in high school. Her first night in France, she stayed alone in a youth hostel, unable to communicate with anyone. "I was very fortunate to be going to an international school, because I was with other people who were experiencing the same struggle," Baer said.

Baer took 10 hours a week in language, including French grammar, vocabulary, writing and discussion and a listening lab. She tested into a class she felt was above her level. "I was surrounded by other people who spoke French a lot better than I did," Baer said. "It was the first time I ever experienced what it was like to be at the very bottom of the class."

Baer became attached to the French during her time abroad. She misses the welcoming nature of the people. "In France, they look at the person to whom they are speaking," Baer said. Other cultural differences included the need to say "hello" and "goodbye" to the owners of stores and an increased sense of fashion. Despite Baer's attempts to mimic the culture, the French were immediately able to identify her as a foreigner due to her above-average height. "That was a shock," Baer said. "I didn't realize that they all were sort of similar physically and that I would stand out."

One of Baer's favorite things about France was the outdoor cafes. The tables all face toward the street so patrons can drink their hot beverage and people-watch. "Even when it is really cold, they put heaters outside because people love to be outside so much," Baer said.

Baer will graduate in May with a double major in English and communications. She has applied to teach English in the French public schools next year. She has not yet heard whether or not she received the position.

"The experience of studying abroad is well worth it for anyone who is even considering it," Baer said. "It really helps you experience a different culture and different people and know what it is like not to understand things all the time and have different experiences that help push the way you think."

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