Kalea Porter

I am a second year ICAM Music major in Seventh College. This past summer I had the time of my life at my Jazz in Paris Global Seminar. I chose the program because I am very interested in the rich history of the Jazz genre, and also who doesn’t want to eat croissants every day? Paris also has such a vibrant jazz scene, so learning about Jazz in Paris and then going to local jazz clubs immersed me in the music in a way that cannot be replicated in a lecture hall. I even got to meet some of the musicians, which was such a surreal experience. My courses were a great balance of lecture and discussion, and every student had to present a reading during each class. I’m going to miss our professor’s saxophone performances at the beginning of lecture, or walking to bakeries during class breaks.

My fondest memories were spent traveling with my other classmates and planning trips together. We were able to visit Belgium, Monet’s House, London, and Luxembourg during the five weeks of our program. I felt so much independence and agency from proactively researching transportation options and creating itineraries with my friends. The Belgium trip was one of my favorites, because the architecture was beautiful, our walking tours were really interesting, and we had many photos and inside jokes to commemorate the excursion. However, my fondest memory might be from being in France during Bastille day. We had a picnic earlier that day with baguettes, cheese, and all the essentials at this gorgeous, lush park in Paris. Later that night during the festivities, we got to sit right by the Eiffel Tower as they shot fireworks from the tower itself. It was spectacular, and the night became even more memorable when one of my classmates lost her phone and we ended up running through the streets of Paris trying to find it. To those interested in studying abroad, my advice is to go for it, and to not be afraid to ask questions. There are so many resources on the study abroad website, financial aid opportunities, and advisors here to help if you have questions. My study abroad experience is definitely something I will remember for the rest of my life!