Name (nickname if you have one): Gisele or GC (used mostly by my sister lol)
Class Year: 2019
Major: Political Science and Law/Policy
Hometown: Gettysburg, PA
Country of Study: Toulouse, France
HC: What are you involved with at Dickinson?
GB: My two main clubs are Alpha Phi Omega and Community Orchestra but I also go to a lot of events put on by Dickinson and go to other clubs meetings when I have the time.
HC: What made you choose to France?
GB: I have been studying French since high school, and I think the best way to really know a language and to understand a culture is to be fully immersed in it. And it was just a coincidence that the Toulouse program was great for my majors too.
HC: What is your favorite part of living in Toulouse?
GB: Omg there are so many things I love about Toulouse, though my favorite thing is the city itself. Coming from a really small town, it’s really nice to live in Toulouse. There is always something to do, the people are so nice and it’s just such a beautiful city. It also doesn’t hurt that there so many options for good food.
HC: What is the most difficult part of being a student in a different country?
GB: I guess it’s a combination of a language barrier and being so isolated. So for me it was my first time being so far away from home especially in a country where I didn’t speak the language like a native. Now you are in a country that is completely different than anything you know. And for me, my french was mostly academic, so I didn’t really know a lot of common every day language in french so it was a bit of an adjustment. It sometimes left me feeling kind of isolated. But this of course is a very common experience with study abroad.
HC: What do you want students to know about studying abroad?
GB: Especially if you are abroad for a year, remember that it is going to be hard. Don’t get me wrong, Study Abroad is AMAZING. But you are gonna have your low points. And you have to remember that it’s okay to take sometime and regroup and that every day doesn’t have to be a crazy adventure. Don’t forget selfcare.
HC: What are your goals for after college?
GB: I really would love to work in a non-profit working to help immigrant and refugee rights hopefully in a city.