2008 Woodie Awards
The profile of an international family
Mandee Adams '08
Issue date: 3/22/07 Section: Portfolio
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Anyone who knows me at Providence College can tell you that my favorite thing about PC is the people. I absolutely adore my friends, professors, and co-workers. I will tell any prospective student or incoming freshman that they too will find it hard not to love everyone. Taking this into consideration, I find it amusing that while in France I have found myself in a similar situation.
When I ask the students here what they like most about the school, the majority of them respond that it is the people. I am so fortunate to be able to attend two schools with such an amazing population of students, staff, and professors. Yet, the students here are certainly different from the people in the Providence College community.
One obvious difference between the student bodies is that I now attend an international college, and thus have many different types of students surrounding me. As I sit in "Le Foyer," what can only be described as the McPhail's of Cannes, I see students from England, Peru, Argentina, Ecuador, Italy, the United States, and many other countries as well.
While most of my friends are Americans, some of my best friends here are from England and Switzerland. Not only am I learning French, and improving my skills in the language, but I am also learning about other cultures from around the world. In my French class, I have students from all over South America.
Since they, along with my professor, don't speak English, French is obviously the common language. We often discuss the differences between our cultures, which may not help my French grammar, but it is helping me become a better citizen of the world.
I speak French all the time. With so many international students, a large percentage of the people at the University don't speak English at all. Going into town or having a meeting with a staff member at the College requires me to speak French-which fortunately has already shown results.
I still can't believe that I live in a foreign country, speak a foreign language, and have new friends from all around the world. I find myself learning phrases in Swiss German on a daily basis, and when I ask my friends to translate them, they tell me what it means in French. I think in French, and have even started to dream in French. The book I am reading right now is called Le Diable S'habille en Prada, more commonly known as the French version of The Devil Wears Prada. Since when can I read a novel in a foreign language? I must have missed that step.
When I ask the students here what they like most about the school, the majority of them respond that it is the people. I am so fortunate to be able to attend two schools with such an amazing population of students, staff, and professors. Yet, the students here are certainly different from the people in the Providence College community.
One obvious difference between the student bodies is that I now attend an international college, and thus have many different types of students surrounding me. As I sit in "Le Foyer," what can only be described as the McPhail's of Cannes, I see students from England, Peru, Argentina, Ecuador, Italy, the United States, and many other countries as well.
While most of my friends are Americans, some of my best friends here are from England and Switzerland. Not only am I learning French, and improving my skills in the language, but I am also learning about other cultures from around the world. In my French class, I have students from all over South America.
Since they, along with my professor, don't speak English, French is obviously the common language. We often discuss the differences between our cultures, which may not help my French grammar, but it is helping me become a better citizen of the world.
I speak French all the time. With so many international students, a large percentage of the people at the University don't speak English at all. Going into town or having a meeting with a staff member at the College requires me to speak French-which fortunately has already shown results.
I still can't believe that I live in a foreign country, speak a foreign language, and have new friends from all around the world. I find myself learning phrases in Swiss German on a daily basis, and when I ask my friends to translate them, they tell me what it means in French. I think in French, and have even started to dream in French. The book I am reading right now is called Le Diable S'habille en Prada, more commonly known as the French version of The Devil Wears Prada. Since when can I read a novel in a foreign language? I must have missed that step.