Peter Bergman
Peter Bergman, a senior in environmental science, spent a semester abroad at UniLaSalle in Beauvais, France. After his initial plans to spend a semester in New Zealand and Australia were suspended due to Covid, Peter wasn’t deterred and found interest in the Water and Environmental Management program and courses offered at UniLaSalle. Peter always wanted to go somewhere outside of the Midwest and knew that he wanted to spend a longer period abroad to allow for more travel opportunities and cultural immersion. Even though all courses at UniLaSalle were taught in English, Peter felt he needed to learn French to ensure he could interact and engage with peers and locals around France.
“The biggest culture shock for me was the language barrier. I learned more French during my 4-month program than I could have in years of language study. There is no better way to learn a new language than being immersed in a culture where the language is spoken, and you’re forced to interact and communicate daily with others speaking the language.”
When comparing UniLaSalle to Iowa State University, Peter noted differences in the campus environment and class scheduling structure. First, the UniLaSalle campus on the edge of Beauvais, France, is a much smaller campus compared to Iowa State, with all the classes being held in one central building and essentials like housing, food courts, and entertainment within walking distance. Secondly, the class structure differed because students took a new class each week. Although the week-long class structure was much shorter than he was used to, Peter enjoyed the variety of topics covered throughout the semester. He spent more time each day in the classroom but had fewer exams and no homework on the weekends.
“While spending 6 hours in the classroom may seem daunting, I enjoyed the week-long class structure because it meant fewer assignments and tests as more content is covered in the class setting.”
When classes weren’t in session, Peter took advantage of opportunities to travel outside Beauvais. With Paris only about an hour away, catching a train for the weekend was easy. Peter’s favorite places to travel to were Prague and Nice, France, where he found the landscape and climate of southern France highly enjoyable. Although UniLaSalle only has about 2,000 students, the international student community is where Peter found his home. He was able to develop friendships with students from Mexico, Bolivia, Ireland, and Africa and build his global network from his semester in France.