Study Abroad in France 2023!

Bonjour, friends and family!

My name is Elise Gonzalez, and I have been accepted into a study abroad program at Cal State University, Fullerton!

A short backstory:

I have wanted to study abroad for the past three years, but unfortunately, COVID-19 prevented me from making this goal possible. Throughout the years, there have been numerous highs and lows that made studying abroad seem out of my reach. In full transparency, I began to believe I would not have the opportunity to study abroad as the end of my college career is coming extremely fast. The more I spoke to graduates and alumni, the more I heard, "I wish I studied abroad in college." This was a huge wake-up call for me and encouraged me to apply despite my financial concerns. Being accepted into this program has been a huge blessing, as there was a rigorous interview process and so many hurdles along the way. Glory to God; I could not have done it on my own.

Psalm 9:1

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;

I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

About my Program:

I will be studying Management and Organizational Behavior in France. The course covers individual and group influences on human behavior in organizations. Participating in this abroad program will support my goals by expanding my knowledge of behavior and having a better understanding of people, their decisions, and business management. This program includes three field study excursions where I will be able to visit different businesses, learn hands-on how the French manage their companies, and get to ask direct questions to owners of companies in France. I also chose this program because it includes “homestay,” where I will be living with a French family and can view their day-to-day lifestyle at hand.

My goals for the program:

Through this experience abroad, I hope to understand a different culture and learn about myself. I will use this experience to gain independence and step out of my comfort zone. I will seek opportunities to become more culturally engaged by becoming close to my homestay family. As I will be living with a local French family, I look forward to asking questions and listening to their stories. One thing that I am looking forward to is asking my homestay parents to teach me how to cook authentic French cuisine; this way, I can build a close relationship with my homestay family and learn more about what it is like to live in France. Then, I can make French dishes at home for friends and family... so when I come back, I'll share the love ;D

Final Note:

I humbly ask for any support you may feel led to give, whether that be financial or prayer. I would be forever grateful for any support you may give. I look forward to sharing more of my story and will be creating a vlog (video log) at the end of my journey to share my experience with everyone! Thank you so much for supporting me throughout this once-in-a-lifetime experience.