Q & A

Subject: Where to study abroad in France?

Question: I'm currently a student at the University of Oklahoma. Right now I'm applying to study abroad next year in France. However, there are many exchange programs with my school, seven in fact: Clermont-Ferrand, Lille, Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Nice, Montpellier, and Limoge. Although I have narrowed the decision down to Bordeaux and Montpellier, that doesn't rule out the possibility that I might just go with another city. My question is: since you have lived in Bordeaux, what can you tell me about the place (people, culture, weather?). And even though Montpellier is not your specialty, perhaps you could tell me things about that city that you've heard just by living in France? That said, would you be able to recommend one over the other? Or if you want to recommend or offer information and opinions about the other places on the list, please feel free to do so (you mentioned Strasbourg in your bio - however, the reason I'm not considering that place right now is that I'm afraid of encountering a hybrid dialect of German and French that might confuse me too much with my still nascent French language skills - but perhaps you can speak differently about that). Right now, I'm just trying to gather as much information as I can. I would appreciate any information and opinions that you could give me.

Answer: My personal feeling is that Bordeaux is the place to go. It has everything that you would want in a French city, beautiful architecture(Place du Parlement), great food and drink, close to the ocean and not overcrowded as is Paris. One drawback is that it is not very centrally located, the Pyrenees and Spain are far a way, but you can get to Paris in three hours by train. Also weather wise, Bordeaux is going to have more sun and clear days, than most of the cities you named, except for maybe Montpellier. But Montpellier might be the hottest city on you list in the summer. For finding a mix of cultures, Bordeaux might not be as appealing as Montpellier, as Montpellier, I would think would have a lot of North Africans, being that it is near Marseille. I think your wrong about there being a hybrid dialect of German and French in Strasbourg. I have now lived in Strasbourg for six months, and I have not heard any hybrid dialect’s spoken, just some Alsatian. If you really want to go to a “French” city, I would not recommend Strasbourg. It is very Alsatian, nothing against that, just not French. Those were my thoughts yesterday, today I asked a French man that I work with, where would he go. He said that Montpellier is the place, close to the ocean, not to cold in the winter, it in the south of France. In the summer he said there is always wind so it does not really get that hot. My co-worker added that Montpellier is a very energetic city yet not that big, a nice place for a student to live. I hope I was able to help you.

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