Jacob Monninger, Alumni Ambassador

what was your favorite class while abroad, and why?
While all of my classes in some way utilized the city of Paris as an educational tool in some way, my “History of Paris: An Architectural Perspective” class made the best use of this. There was never a shortage of important buildings or infrastructure to analyze throughout the complex and storied metropolis. The majority of classes involved going out into the city to learn on-location at Paris’ famed architectural landmarks, which completely enhanced the experience.

how did you engage with the local community while abroad?
I visited various museums and attractions across Paris and the surrounding suburbs, including many small and more intimate locations where I was definitely the only non-French person. Sometimes I went on French-language tours and participated with all French speakers, which was both fun and challenging. I also got into a habit of going to the same boulangerie before class and got to know the staff there a bit.