During college, many students aim to experience foreign countries. For would-be studio art sophomore Joe Breck, his dream will be a reality when he uproots his life to move to Paris in a matter of weeks.
The idea came to him on a whim, he said, when his cousin discussed plans to move to Paris with his girlfriend. The group plans to make the big move Sept. 19.
“I made my decision to go probably in late July,” Breck said. “My cousin, who is pretty much my best friend in the world, and his girlfriend were moving, and they said that it wasn’t that difficult and wouldn’t cost much more than it does here, and told me to look into it, and so I just kind of went for it.”
Breck said although the prospective change of scenery is exciting, it also makes him nervous.
“I’m looking forward to the big city and the Europe feel,” he said. “I’m not really looking forward to being really poor and also not looking forward to not speaking French while I’m in France. That’s going to be awkward for a little while.”
Although he plans to take intensive French classes when he gets there, Breck said he anticipates the language barrier being a struggle at first. MSU associate professor of French and French Language Coordinator Anne Violin-Wigent agreed.
“Speaking the language fully is one thing, but speaking some of the language is extremely important,” Violin-Wigent said. “You’ve got to speak French when you go to France for the same reason that when people come to America and can’t speak English — they can’t function.”
Despite the language barrier, Breck’s girlfriend, mechanical engineering junior Martha Rehm, said she thinks he will adapt well to the situation.
“He is the kind of person who can be friends with anyone and is super good at getting used to any situation,” Rehm said. “I think it will be important for him to go and meet a bunch of new people and do things he’s never done before, especially because I know that he’s lived around here his whole life and has never really gone very far away.”
Although he is excited to do something spontaneous, Breck said leaving his friends, family and college is bittersweet.
“I’m really bummed about leaving MSU,” Breck said. “I am pretty upset about leaving. Since I’m still here, I’m watching all my friends go to class and talk about their favorite professors and I’m still stuck just waiting. I really am going to miss it even though I am leaving.”
Breck plans to stay in Paris from nine months to a year before returning to the U.S. and possibly to MSU.
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