Bonjour ! I’m Jo, a rising sophomore studying math and philosophy. This summer I am studying French in Rouen, Normandy, France on a FLAG grant. I chose a small city away from Paris because I wanted to be immersed in a French-speaking environment. You bet my rusty French saw some real growth when I had to rely on hand gesturing while recalling a verb formation from middle school.
My host family and I eat dinner together, and we play board games some nights. I especially enjoy the culinary culture of the north of France (my favourite is Camembert, a Normandy cheese).
I’m grateful for the opportunity to immerse myself in a language-learning environment after learning French in school for so many years, and I’m hoping in future years I can read some original math scripts or Sartre in French!
SITG Dispatch from Rouen
by Jo Jiao, Class of 2027 (Summer 2024)
Dining with friends in a bistro on the streets of Rouen (Jo Jiao, Class of 2027)
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Our host family drove us to the locals’ favourite spot, Côté Sainte-Catherine, overlooking the whole of Rouen (Jo Jiao, Class of 2027)