Htown Harry
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
- Joined
- May 13, 2007
- Messages
- 1,525
DD#1 is a junior at State U. She wants to go to France next semester on an academic exchange, meaning tuition will be paid to the home school and credits for pre-approved classes at Paris U #10 will post directly to her State U transcript.
She took French beginning in 7th grade and continued through high school. Once at the U, she took two basic classes (easy A's) and liked the experience of learning from native French speakers. She's taken another class this semester - a more challenging grammar and speaking lab - and will have enough credits for a minor in French with either two or three more classes.
Studying abroad has been mentioned more and more frequently as time has gone on. It's now approaching the status of a done deal for the upcoming spring semester - the applications are due next week and I'm fairly certain she will be a shoe-in for approval.
So there's no worries on language fluency, and I am certain that the exchange offices at both U's will work out a class schedule that will count toward both her major and the French minor. Thus far she has resisted any attraction to LGFNB's or weekly frat parties, so it's a good bet that she will show up for class and learn something.
Academically, there is little doubt this will be a good experience. And, on a rational level, DW and I are thrilled about her one taking one more step toward independence.
On another hand, the still-strong parental instincts do cause some apprehension. In particular, researching the logistics have us all working nights and weekends. In some ways, it's like senior year of high school all over again. (We feel your pain, Nords.)
The top issues, in no particular order:
She took French beginning in 7th grade and continued through high school. Once at the U, she took two basic classes (easy A's) and liked the experience of learning from native French speakers. She's taken another class this semester - a more challenging grammar and speaking lab - and will have enough credits for a minor in French with either two or three more classes.
Studying abroad has been mentioned more and more frequently as time has gone on. It's now approaching the status of a done deal for the upcoming spring semester - the applications are due next week and I'm fairly certain she will be a shoe-in for approval.
So there's no worries on language fluency, and I am certain that the exchange offices at both U's will work out a class schedule that will count toward both her major and the French minor. Thus far she has resisted any attraction to LGFNB's or weekly frat parties, so it's a good bet that she will show up for class and learn something.
Academically, there is little doubt this will be a good experience. And, on a rational level, DW and I are thrilled about her one taking one more step toward independence.
On another hand, the still-strong parental instincts do cause some apprehension. In particular, researching the logistics have us all working nights and weekends. In some ways, it's like senior year of high school all over again. (We feel your pain, Nords.)
The top issues, in no particular order:
- Financial transactions. Not where we will get the money to pay for this (incl. DD's share), but how to set up for accounts, payments and spending money in Euros. Being a member of this forum, I am of course highly allergic to unnecessary fees and hassles.
- Communications. DW and DD speak to each other free (and frequently) on our family cell phone plan. We have recently bought webcams and figured out how to make free Skype internet video calls. Cell phone research is in progress - a pay-as-you-go plan in France looks to be the way to go for a six-month stay.
- Where to stay is a big unknown right now, but it may be critical to how this works out. It's certainly the biggest financial variable. Unlike freshman year, however, there seems to be very little a non-French-speaking parent can do to help sort through the options.
- Security. Not personal security exactly (although that's a part of it, especially for DW), but the uncertainty of whether some of the safety net services we take for granted at an American U will be available if needed.
- Health care is also on the list, but I suspect provisions for basic insurance and access to a doctor or clinic will be covered as a matter of course in the exchange process. I wonder whether I should take this for granted. (DD is fit and has no health issues.)
- How to explain to my boss that I will need at least two weeks of vacation time to "pick up my daughter from college" next June.