By Jack Meyer, Journalism Sophomore

After my experience in Germany with the CJC last November, I decided to sign up for yet another week-long study abroad program. This time, we were Paris-bound to cover the NBA game between the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls.

The game itself was entertaining enough, but I gained so much more from this program than just covering a basketball game. From the lifelong friendships I made to the new cultural traditions I encountered, I can confidently say that the week I spent in Paris ended up being one of the best weeks of my life.

Starting off with adapting to the French culture itself, I was caught off guard in a few different ways. In Germany, I was surprised at how many people spoke English. In France, however, I thought there would be more English speakers than there actually were. There were also a few natives that came off as a bit abrasive at times.

The locals often bumped into our groups in trains and public places. Then, they would just walk away without even acknowledging us.

However, the city itself was absolutely gorgeous.

The Eiffel Tower lived up to the hype, and there were so many beautiful buildings and monuments everywhere we went.

The food was also fantastic. About 90% of my diet in France consisted of Lion Bars, croque-monsieur (a French sandwich with boiled ham, Gruyère cheese and butter) and crêpes. No wonder I had gained three pounds by the time I got back to the US!

The metro system really impressed me as well. The trains ran relatively well and figuring out where we needed to go was easy.

While the city itself had its highs and lows, the experiences I had and the memories we made are what made this experience so special to me. From screaming karaoke at the top of my lungs in the hostel we stayed at to rummaging through the city for a late-night snack with some new friends, this program included many standout moments.

My project partner and I also got to witness the NBA game itself along with some of our peers. While in attendance, we got to speak with numerous international NBA fans regarding their experiences with basketball and how they fell in love with it. I truly had a blast all week long from start to finish. My only regret from the experience is that it had to end.

Posted: March 13, 2023
Category: NBA in Paris
Tagged as: NBA in Paris, Paris, sports, Sports@CJC, Study Abroad, Study Abroad experience