All Things ASE
Perspective Building in Paris.
Tyra Smith (author’s photo).
Tyra Smith, a Franklin and Marshall student who studied with us this last semester, reflects on how our Bridgetower Fund gave her the opportunity to go even further afield in her study abroad experience.
With the generous support provided by the Bridgtower Fund, I experienced a riveting mid-semester break abroad in the fabulous city of Paris.
Admittedly, if it wasn’t for a friend who was studying abroad there, the possibility of venturing to Paris probably would’ve eluded me. Before studying abroad in Bath, the thought of even traveling outside of the United States had rarely occurred to me, and even if it had, it certainly wouldn’t have been to a country with an official language I hadn’t studied. However, with countries only being a few hours plane ride apart from each other in Europe, and the adventurous spirit promoted by both ASE and my fellow students alike, both the program and the Bridgetower grant enabled me to broaden my horizon of what was possible, which included making a trip to Paris a reality.
My itinerary included a very animated cabaret viewing of Rocky Horror Picture Show with perhaps the most lively audience I’ve seen since coming to Europe, as well as a lavish visit to the Musée d’Orsay art museum which featured works by Van Gogh, Monet, and a striking shadow figure display by Louis Morin that that I was particularly fond of.
Aside from trying various eateries and local bakeries, I also made a very essential visit to the Eiffel Tower before departing.
Perhaps my most mesmerizing experience during my break, however, was traveling a bit outside the city to see the Palace of Versailles. Ever since learning about the French Revolution in high school, I regarded the palace as an unapologetic marvel of architecture. However, never in my wildest dreams did I think I would actually get the chance to see the structure in person until this semester. Even with my previously set expectations of grandeur, I still wasn’t prepared for how comedically awestruck I was to see it in person. If it wasn’t for my friend growing tired after our four-hour visit, I could’ve easily spent the entire day exploring every nook and cranny.
Tyra ‘comedically awestruck’ at Versailles.
Aside from sightseeing, however, perhaps the most enriching addition to my perspective in Paris was rooted in a language barrier.
It’s not very often that I encounter language barriers while seeking out services in the States, and while I was thoroughly impressed with how many different languages the city catered to, it was a very illuminating experience of what it felt like to not be the target audience of a location. As previously mentioned, I’ve been more apprehensive towards the idea of traveling to places that are not English or Spanish speaking partly because of how much privilege is embedded in internationally traveling to a place and expecting to be catered to if you don’t speak its official language.
Though I made some feeble attempts to learn as much as I could before traveling, I still found myself woefully unprepared and incredibly relieved by how accommodating the city was towards tourists. Seeing text and hearing automated notifications presented in multiple languages in several places made me think about how less considerate the UK and the US are when it comes to languages.
Additionally, I learned how much of a relief it felt to be understood in an unfamiliar and sometimes overwhelming environment. As a cashier who often encounters only Spanish-speaking customers where I live, the experience has definitely given me more incentive to continue learning the language and hopefully provide someone else with that same relief in the future.
The Bridgetower Fund has enabled me to see an assortment of incredible sights, in addition to helping me achieve an extremely valuable perspective-changing and boundary-challenging experience. I am very grateful for the resources it provided me to make my venture to Paris truly rewarding.
The Bridgetower Fund is named after George Augustus Polgreen Bridgetower (1780-1860), a brilliant Black musician, of African and European heritage, who famously performed in Bath.
The Fund provides financial assistance to students of colour, for participation in a broad range of enriching cultural activities and events.
ASE Alumni and Friends of the programme are encouraged to support the Bridgetower Fund or any of our needs-based scholarships
by making a one-time or regular donation.