Paris Sojourn - Cultural Immersion in France's Capital

The Setting: Paris

Sojourns Abroad has chosen its site cities for both similarities and differences. Each city is steeped in history and tradition yet alive with culture--a richly layered past combined with contemporary visual and performing arts, an individual political heartbeat, and a long history of writers who have touched the city's pulse. A participant may select a site for purposes of specific language-learning, for the country or city itself, for size, or for a sense that this is where a sojourner could discover the strongest sense of belonging. The program's structure is the same in each locale.

Living the Past and Still-Present Romance of the French Capital City Paris's history dates back to the expansion of the Roman Empire, and from its earliest settlement became known as a major center of education, intellectualism, and for all the arts including the culinary. Classical to experimental theater, museums which house a lion's share of the icons of the history of art, opera, jazz, multi-ethnic street music, a pervasive interest in world and local politics, a gastronome's paradise—this and an overlay of romance is how the world thinks of Paris.

Like a snail shell spiral, Paris's 20 arrondissements curl inside the Périphique—which marks the old walls—and circle across the Seine Although the Métro is the most efficient transport in the city and bus routes snake everywhere, when leisure allows, walking is the preferred "transport" for appreciating the texture of the city neighborhood by neighborhood or monument by monument. From broad boulevards to narrow, winding alleyways, her rich history and architectural beauty make Paris a favorite of cities world-wide.

Paris is an ideal place for young people to sojourn. The presence of the many branches of the University of Paris enlarges the infinite cultural and intellectual resources of the City. It also provides a large population of young French for Paris Sojourn participants to get to know.