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Brayden in Paris Week 5: Versailles

A Visit to Versailles

One of the highlights of this week was visiting the Palace of Versailles. Before coming to France, Versailles was one of those places I had seen countless times in history books, documentaries, and online, but seeing it in person was a completely different experience. What struck me most was the scale of everything. Photos never really capture how large the palace and grounds actually are. Walking through the palace, the Hall of Mirrors, and the gardens made me realize just how much time you could spend there and still not see everything.

The gardens were probably my favorite part of the visit. They seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction, and it was easy to spend hours simply walking around and exploring. While Versailles is known for its history, I found myself appreciating the atmosphere just as much as the historical significance

Musée des Arts et Métiers

This week I also visited the Musée des Arts et Métiers as part of a course assignment. For one of my classes, I am required to create a poster and write an essay about a specific invention and the scientist or inventor behind it. The museum turned out to be one of the most interesting places I have visited so far because it showcases the history of innovation across hundreds of years.

What I found most interesting was the range of inventions on display. In one exhibit, you can see some of the earliest aircraft ever built, and in another you can find technologies that feel surprisingly modern. The museum contains everything from early airplanes and scientific instruments to older computers, electronics, and even devices like iPods. Walking through the exhibits felt like watching the timeline of technology unfold in front of you.

As an engineering student, it was fascinating to see how quickly technology has evolved. Seeing inventions separated by only a few decades made it clear how rapidly innovation can transform everyday life.

The Reality of Living Abroad

As my time in Paris continues, I have started to realize that studying abroad is both exciting and exhausting. When people think about studying abroad, they often focus on the travel, famous landmarks, and unique experiences. While those aspects are certainly real, there is another side that receives less attention. Living in a different country means constantly adapting to new customs, transportation systems, schedules, languages, and social norms. Even simple daily tasks can require more mental energy than they would at home.

After several weeks of classes, excursions, and travel, I have begun to understand why many students experience periods of homesickness or fatigue while studying abroad. There are moments when you miss familiar routines, your family, your friends, and the comfort of knowing exactly how things work. At times, the constant excitement can become surprisingly draining.

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Brayden in Paris Week 4: Midterms

Midterms

This week marked an important milestone in the program: midterm exams. One of the biggest differences I have noticed between studying abroad and studying at the University of Michigan is the pace of the courses. At Michigan, midterms typically occur around weeks four or five of a semester. Here in Paris, however, the program lasts only six weeks, meaning that midterms arrived after just two weeks of class.

The accelerated schedule means courses move quickly, so you spend more time in class each week than in a traditional semester. While the material is covered at a faster pace, the exams themselves tend to be more focused and straightforward than many of the exams I have taken at Michigan. Rather than testing several months' worth of material, the exams concentrate on a smaller amount of content taught over a condensed period.

A Free Evening at the Louvre

One of the highlights of the week was finally visiting the Louvre, which was one of my bucket list spots in France. Normally, admission can be expensive for travelers, although students can often receive discounted entry with a valid student ID. Through CEA CAPA, we received student identification cards that provide access to a variety of discounts throughout Paris. However, I was able to take advantage of an even better opportunity. On the first Friday of every month after 6:00 PM, the Louvre offers free admission, allowing visitors to experience the museum without purchasing a ticket.

Walking through the museum and seeing some of the world's most famous works of art was an incredible experience. The Louvre itself is impressive not only because of its collection but also because of its sheer size. Even after spending several hours there, it felt impossible to see everything.

*I have way more photos

Chantilly Program Day Trip

Before I get into the trip, I want to mention that the program offers many paid excursions you can sign up for. The program has two weekend excursions you can go on; the first this year being Étretat, which I missed last week since I went to London. There are also smaller excursions like food tours, neighborhood and historical walking tours, special dinners, and other cultural experiences. Many of the courses also incorporate excursions directly into the curriculum. For example, my French Food and Culture course includes a more advanced food tour and a wine tasting experience that connects directly to the topics we discuss in class. My statics course also includes a museum visit.

Anyway, Chantilly is best known for the Château de Chantilly, one of the most important historic estates in France. The château has a long history associated with the French nobility. Today, the château houses the Musée Condé, which contains one of the country's most significant collections of paintings, manuscripts, and historical artifacts outside of the Louvre.

What makes Chantilly particularly unique, however, is its connection to horses. The town is often considered the horse capital of France and has been associated with equestrian culture for centuries.

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Brayden in Paris Week 3: Surviving the Heat

Surviving a Paris Heat Wave

This week was a little different from my previous weeks abroad. Rather than spending every day visiting museums or famous landmarks, much of the week was spent simply trying to survive one of the hottest stretches of weather Paris has experienced this summer.

Coming from North Carolina, I thought I was prepared for hot weather. What I quickly learned, however, is that the heat in Paris feels very different. The best way to describe it is that it is uncomfortable because many buildings don't have air conditioning, so you're constantly hot and have no chance to properly cool down. As a result, I found myself adapting local habits such as keeping shutters closed during the day, opening windows at night, and seeking out shade whenever possible.

The heat wave also made me appreciate how much of daily life in Paris takes place outdoors. Parks, cafés, and public spaces remained busy despite the temperatures, and it was interesting to see how residents adjusted their routines rather than simply staying inside.

Provins Day trip

My visit to Provins provided an opportunity to experience a very different side of France. Located southeast of Paris, Provins is known for its medieval history and remarkably preserved architecture. Walking through the town felt like stepping into another era, with stone buildings, narrow streets, and historic structures that have remained part of the landscape for centuries.

One of the most interesting aspects of the visit was seeing how different life can feel outside of Paris. While Paris is fast-paced, densely populated, and constantly busy, Provins offers a much quieter, slower environment. The town's medieval character remains visible in nearly every street and building, providing a glimpse into France's history that cannot be experienced in the capital alone.

London

One of the reasons I chose Paris for my study abroad experience was its location. Paris is one of the best connected cities in Europe, making it possible to visit other countries and regions with relatively little travel time. From Paris, most major European cities can be reached in under three hours by plane, and many destinations are connected by extensive rail networks. This week, I took advantage of that accessibility by traveling to London.

As an Arsenal supporter, visiting London was a particularly special experience. The trip coincided with the UEFA Champions League Final, creating an atmosphere unlike anything I had experienced before. Throughout the city, football supporters filled the streets, pubs, and public spaces, creating a sense of excitement that could be felt everywhere. Being able to visit the Emirates Stadium and see thousands of Arsenal supporters gathered was one of the highlights of my time abroad so far (even though we lost).

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Brayden in Paris Week 2: Classes begin

Classes

After a first week focused mostly on orientation and adjusting to life in Paris, classes officially started this week. One thing that immediately stood out to me is how quickly paced the courses are compared to what I’m used to at Michigan. Since the program only lasts six weeks, classes meet four times a week for about two and a half hours each session, so material moves fast.

At the same time, the class sizes are much smaller than what I typically experience back home. One of my classes only has six students, while the other has around thirteen. Because of that, discussions feel much more personal and interactive, and it’s easier to actually get to know both the professors and the other students in the program.

Another aspect of the courses I’m looking forward to is the number of activities and excursions built directly into them. For example, my Food and Culture class includes both a food tour and a wine tasting later in the program.

More Paris Exploration

As the second week went on, Paris started feeling slightly less overwhelming and a little more familiar. Even after just two weeks, I’m beginning to understand why people say Paris is a city best experienced slowly. So instead of rushing to see all the major landmarks, I’ve started exploring different neighborhoods and parts of the city more casually with friends. Frolicking around random areas of Paris has honestly been some of my favorite moments.

One of the most interesting places we visited was the Fondation Louis Vuitton. The building itself almost feels futuristic compared to the rest of Paris. Between the curved glass exterior, sharp angles, and massive open spaces inside, it felt completely different from the traditional architecture most people associate with the city.

Later in the week, we visited the Arc de Triomphe at night, which turned out to be one of my favorite experiences so far. Seeing the city from above while everything slowly lit up at sunset made Paris feel much larger than it does when walking street by street.

And of course, no late-night Paris outing is complete without grabbing food somewhere afterward.

We also continued exploring parks and different public spaces around the city. One thing I’ve noticed is how often people in Paris simply spend time outside. Parks are constantly full of people sitting, reading, talking with friends, or just relaxing in the middle of the day.

speaking of greenery...

Paris Greenery

Before arriving in Paris, I honestly expected the city to feel much more dense and crowded with buildings and traffic. Instead, one of the biggest surprises has been how much greenery exists throughout the city.

Paris has clearly made an effort to reduce car dependency in many areas by adding more pedestrian streets, bike lanes, and public green spaces. Even many larger roads now include tree lined medians and planted walkways that make the city feel less overwhelming despite how populated it is.

Compared to many American cities, Paris feels much more designed around people rather than cars. Because of that, the city feels more alive outdoors. People spend hours sitting in parks, along the Seine, and in public squares instead of quickly moving from place to place.

Mastering the Metro

The Paris Metro has quickly become one of the most important parts of daily life here. At first, the entire system looked incredibly confusing, but after using it every day it has started becoming second nature.

Paris actually has multiple connected rail systems. The Métro consists of Lines 1 through 14 and functions more like a traditional subway with frequent stops throughout the city. Then there’s the RER system, which acts more like a regional rail or light rail network connecting Paris to outer districts and suburbs.

The RER trains are generally newer and often nicer, but they also stop less frequently. Most trips involve transferring multiple times between metro and RER lines. It’s pretty common to start on one line, switch to another, then transfer again before finally reaching your destination.

Brayden Moore

Chemical Engineering

IPE: Engineering in Paris

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Brayden in Paris Week 1: Exploration and Friendship Building

Orientation

After finally settling into Paris, the program's first official week began with orientation. Most of the orientation focused on helping us adjust to daily life in the city and understanding how the program would work. We covered everything from class schedules and upcoming excursions to housing reminders, transportation, and safety information around the city.

While orientation itself was pretty straightforward, it was also one of the first opportunities to really meet my peers in the program. Since classes hadn't started yet, everyone was still in that awkward stage of trying to figure out the city, navigate the metro, and meet new people at the same time. The week ended with one of the highlights of orientation: a Seine River cruise through Paris.

Learning the Metro and Exploring Paris

One thing I quickly realized is that Paris is much larger than I originally imagined. Before arriving, I assumed I would mostly walk everywhere, but after a few days I learned very quickly that the metro is essential if you want to efficiently get around the city.

All students receive a Navigo card for transportation, but you still have to purchase and upload your MetroPass onto the card before using it. Once I finally figured out that process, navigating Paris became significantly easier. Walking between arrondissements can easily take 20 to 30 minutes, depending on where you are going, so learning the metro system early is almost mandatory.

Over the course of the week, my friends and I spent most of our time simply exploring different parts of the city. One of the most interesting things about Paris is how dramatically different areas can feel from one another. Some neighborhoods feel exactly like the classic image of Paris with narrow streets, cafés, and historic architecture, while others feel surprisingly modern. Seeing places like the Louvre, Sacré-Cœur, and the Arc de Triomphe was incredible, but visiting La Défense honestly surprised me the most.

Making Friends Abroad

One thing people do not always talk about with studying abroad is how strange the social adjustment can feel during the first week. Since classes had barely started and there were not many structured group activities outside of orientation, much of the socializing came from simply making spontaneous plans with people.

At first, it was a little difficult because everyone was trying to find their own routines as they adjusted to a completely new environment. But after meeting a few people during orientation, things started becoming much more natural. Some nights we would grab dinner together, and other times we would randomly decide to explore a different part of the city. Specifically, the food has become a major part of the social experience here. Some of my favorite moments so far have honestly just been sitting in restaurants for hours, talking with people.

Paris at Night

On Saturday night, my roommate randomly suggested going out at 10 just to get pictures of the Eiffel Tower at night. What we thought would be a quick trip somehow turned into wandering around Paris until nearly 2 in the morning. The strange part was that the later it became, the more alive the city felt. Cafés were still busy, people were everywhere, and entire groups were still gathering around the Eiffel Tower well after midnight. It honestly felt like nighttime in Paris begins at 2 AM instead of ending there.

So far, studying abroad has been equal parts exhausting, chaotic, exciting, and unforgettable, which honestly feels like exactly what it should be. Can't wait for next week.

Brayden Moore

Chemical Engineering

IPE: Engineering in Paris

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Brayden in Paris Week 0: Arriving in Paris

Landing

After months of planning, packing, and stressing about everything from flights to housing, I finally arrived in Paris. Even now, it still feels strange saying that out loud. For so long, studying abroad felt like some distant future event I would think about between classes at Michigan. Now I’m actually here, living in a small apartment in one of the largest cities in Europe for the next several weeks.

Honestly, the reality of being abroad didn’t hit me all at once; it kind of crept up on me throughout the trip. My flight included a layover in Iceland, and going through customs there was surprisingly quick and easy compared to what I’ve heard about dealing with customs directly at Charles de Gaulle. By the time I landed in Paris, the airport itself was actually pretty manageable to navigate. The hardest part ended up being trying to find the driver from my program who was picking me up after I got through baggage claim. Somewhere between hearing French constantly around me, dragging my luggage through the airport, and stepping outside into Paris for the first time after an overnight flight, it finally started to sink in that this wasn’t just a trip anymore; I’m actually living here now.

Adjusting to Everyday Life in Paris

One thing that has already surprised me is how mentally exhausting constant adaptation can be. Even small tasks like grocery shopping, understanding transportation, or ordering food suddenly require more attention than they would back home. There’s this strange balance between excitement and overstimulation that comes with being abroad. Every street, every store, and every interaction feels unfamiliar, which makes even normal daily routines feel significant and exhausting.

At the same time, Paris feels incredibly alive. Everywhere I look, there are people sitting outside cafés, walking through the streets late into the evening, or navigating the city with a level of confidence I definitely do not have yet. Back home, I spend most of my time focused on schedules and assignments, constantly thinking ahead. Here, I’m hoping to slow down a little and become more present in the moment.

Housing

My apartment itself is definitely smaller than what I’m used to in the United States, but I’ve already started appreciating how efficient everything is. Between the kitchenette, desk setup, and compact layout, I’m beginning to realize how differently people approach space and daily life here compared to the U.S. Looking out the window and seeing Paris instead of Ann Arbor still feels surreal.

Another difference I’ve noticed is how much more connected housing feels to the surrounding neighborhood. Instead of feeling isolated on a campus, I’m living directly in the city alongside local residents, cafés, grocery stores, and small businesses. Every time I leave the building, I immediately feel immersed in daily Parisian life, which makes the experience feel much more authentic than simply staying in a hotel or tourist area.

Looking Ahead

One goal I already have for myself is to avoid staying inside an “American bubble” while I’m here. Obviously it’s comforting being around people from my program, especially while everyone is still adjusting, but I also want to challenge myself to become more independent and adaptable. I want to improve my French, meet new people, and experience daily life here beyond just the tourist side of Paris.

I’m also interested to see how studying abroad changes my perspective as an engineering student. So much of engineering at Michigan feels fast-paced and structured, and I’m curious how living in a completely different environment and culture will affect the way I think about balance, independence, and even problem solving.

Right now, I still feel somewhere between overwhelmed and excited, which honestly probably means I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

Brayden Moore

Chemical Engineering

IPE: Engineering in Paris