I never saw study abroad as fitting into Paideia as much as I saw Paideia fitting into my study abroad plans. I spent a month in France the summer before my senior year in high school, and since then I have always planned on returning. When I found that the Paideia program was geared towards promoting study abroad, I was sold. When I was in France, I gained an immeasurable amount of experience and life lessons that have helped shaped the person I am today. I would say that the most obvious and beneficial outcome of study abroad from my limited experience is the way in which you really learn to be independent and self-sufficient. It really is a growing process that cannot be replaced by anything else. This is what I hope to gain from my study abroad experience. I always expected study abroad to fit in with my educational plan at SU. I would love to take some courses in French at a French University, perhaps in politics or philosophy. I feel like this would be an amazing challenge. The only real concern I have with study abroad is the monetary aspect, and if it would fit into my budget. At this point, I have a fairly good idea about where I want to study. I would love to spend a summer in Africa, preferably on the francophone west coast. I also want to spend a semester in France, although I am not sure where yet. I think I would like to be in a large city, but not Paris.
Cait
