Keri - Letter to Future Students

Dear Future World Traveler,

Paris is a city you want to see, and study aboard with MIAD is an amazing way to see it right. As a former Paris tourist turned Parisian student, I see the difference now. I went to Paris last summer for about 4 days, and really enjoyed the city. My friend and I walked around, ate at some great places, mainly ordered ham and cheese because that’s all we could read, and we went to all those places you’re supposed to see in Paris. Oh and… I couldn’t tell you anything about those places besides how pretty and grand they were. So my goal was simple: to be able to associate some kind of history, facts, or knowledge behind the amazing places and art pieces I’ve seen. I wanted to connect the textbook with physical sites, to attach meaning, and be able to tell someone else about it.

My expectations were met and exceeded.  The pre-work before the trip laid a great base layer.  However, the best history lessons came during the walking tours (lead by our incredibly capable instructors) and lessons on-the-go in museums, in front of buildings, or at our morning meetings. I was able to connect the words with the sites. We were also encouraged and expected to make our own connections, observations, and opinions. We wrote daily in our sketchbooks with drawings or notes through out the trip. Which leads me to my favorite part – The Sketchbook.

I’ve always wanted to study abroad and learn to draw/paint/sketch my surroundings. I think my dream involved more leisurely drawing instruction, but this was a surprising treat. Though fast pasted at times, I enjoyed recording memories in a different way than just taking pictures and I felt artsy! Haha I’m a communication design major and I think I can draw Ok, but nothing compared to what I would like to be able to do. This was a forced opportunity to explore something in me.  It made me want to draw more. It also reminded me that I just needed to start. Plus, Paris has so much eye-candy that it’s the perfect place to begin to develop this skill. This was my favorite, and something I will keep for all my future travels.

We were given guidance and allowed free time to explore. I’d encourage future students to enjoy both of those. I really liked the private tours and studies as well as the leisurely evening walks around the city with no real plan. I’m a transfer student and didn’t know a lot of people this year, but I liked getting to know these people and will be happy to see more familiar faces in the hallways come fall.

Highlights: going to see a Julius Caesar at the Opera House!, climbing to Montmartre, group dinner the first night & trying escargot, [French] onion soup, really looking at buildings or art instead of taking a picture and moving on, almond croissants,  feeling Parisian with my metro pass, learning about how a museum is curated, seeing The Queens Hamlet at Versailles, the views,  and being reunited with speculoos  gelato (as often as possible).

I will take with me a lot from this trip, but one that stands out is learning about the intention of the artist. It seemed like so much of the art was done on purpose from the curation to the brushstrokes.  I’d like to bring more intention to my own work.

Keri

Letter to Future Students

To the future student looking to study abroad,

I chose to go to Paris, much like others, to get outside of my comfort zone. I’ve spent my whole life in Wisconsin, and have only been out of the country with my family. Choosing to stay so close by to friends and family that I grew up with has had extreme benefits at times and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. But, I found myself becoming too consumed with the needs of others this past year and felt a little out of touch with myself, and with my work. Paris was so attractive to me because the distance would be forcing me to take time out for myself and my schooling; something that I hadn’t necessarily allowed myself to fully do in a long time. I also felt that this summer would be one of the last, if not the last, where I could fully excuse myself from the real world with very little consequence. The amount of pressure that I’m already feeling to figure out what I’m doing after I graduate in the spring has already started to build up, and I thought that if I removed myself from my typical environment and threw myself into a completely new one that it would become more clear to me what it is that I want to focus on.

While I came to Paris expecting personal clarity, I also expected to be able to experience most of the city in one trip. I quickly learned, that even with the fast-paced program that was set up for us, that it was absolutely unobtainable. As soon as I realized this after the first couple of days, I was better able to digest the places we were seeing. I was so overwhelmed from the culture-shock that I experienced from the second we got off the plane that it was difficult at times to take it all in. From the language barrier, as well as the extreme beauty within all of the buildings in Paris that you are constantly surrounded by, it’s easy to get lost and swept up by all of the change. But the biggest thing that I had to keep in mind was that at the end of the day, Chris and Eric really have your best interest at heart-the schedule that they have carefully planned is laid out for a reason. The integration and exposure to museums, archives, and historical landmarks kept me interested. I found myself pleasantly surprised at the wide variety of places we went to visit and felt that the ground covered on this trip was suitable for any major. I realized on this trip the importance of looking at work outside of your usual interest and/or focus. For the first time on this trip I found myself completely moved by the architecture at the Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation, which I had no idea was possible. I found myself extremely interested in the psychology of painting and the symbolism of color and movement within the Early Abstraction movement. While I know that I’ve studied some of that in my Art History classes before, there was a complete disconnect for me between seeing it in a textbook, and physically experiencing a piece that Paris filled.

 I realized after coming home that I feel a lot more comfortable in my own skin after this trip. Part of that I believe, is due to the fact that you’re thrown into a completely different culture and you may be extremely uncomfortable and/or uneasy. I found that I got a lot of the personal clarity I needed by being more in tune with my thoughts and emotions because I was removed from my comfort zone. I truthfully believe that this trip has impacted the way that I look at artwork, as well as the way that I create. I not only look at work more analytically than I did before because of the curriculum, but the work the things that inspired me while I was in Paris were different than what I have been attracted to back in Milwaukee. The exposure to a new culture and a new way of living and experiencing the world opened up a whole new side of my photography that I didn’t know was there. This epiphany of some sorts came at a really significant time-it answered a lot of doubts that I had about myself as a photography student, and solidified some ground to help me feel more confident going into my senior year.

To anyone thinking about studying abroad—do it. Don’t overthink it. Yes, it is daunting. Yes, you will go through a wide variety of emotions. You will be exhausted mentally, emotionally, and physically after seeing and experiencing this completely different world. You may or may not click with the city the program is running in, but you will learn so much more about yourself once you remove yourself from your comfort zone. And please, once the program is finished, take some time to yourself before returning back home. Go visit another city or two-stay a few days longer if you can. The down time that I had in London before I went back home helped me process through Paris a lot better. All in all, there is not one person that wouldn’t benefit from studying abroad. Do it now while you’re in school and you have the time – it really will shape the way that you look at the rest of the world once you come back.

-Teresa Gagliano

Letter to Future Student: Robert Matthiesen

Dear Future Student,

I wanted to travel on an International program because I am a hands-on learner. I thought that being able to learn about art history by experiencing it would work well for me. For me, seeing and touching is much more beneficial than simply reading in an art history book. Normally, travel will push you out of your comfort zone. It will force you to learn and see new things in new light. It ignites new ideas and motivates one to want to know more. Educational travel pushes you even further. It gives direction and structure to the experience. This trip expanded my artistic ideas and strengthened my foundation knowledge for future projects.

My expectations were simple. I wanted to see a lot of famous art and learn a great deal from it. These expectations were not just met. They were exceeded. Using the 6 scales that Chris and Eric taught us, I was about to learn and study the art in a whole new way. With so much exposure to art, my thoughts were jumping with ideas and concepts to explore. I kept a list of these ideas that I plan to work on in the future.

Overall the Paris trip served as a learning point to reflect on the past and to fuel further explorations. Every student is unique with different favorite parts. I really enjoyed that Chris and Eric tried to at least touch on all the art movements as we traveled around Paris.

There was something for everyone. Keeping an open attitude allowed me to enjoyed areas of art and history that I would not have sought out on my own.

Learning is a never-ending process. Everything that I had studied previously became the foundation for this trip. The many group and one-on-one discussions allowed me to expand my base knowledge. Experiencing the art with others allowed us to have shared experiences for these discussions. One of my strengths was talking about Monet. He is one of my favorite painters.  Sharing some little known facts with Eric, I was encouraged to research Monet and Impressionism even further.

This is an once-in-a-lifetime experience. You will see art that you have only talked about in school but then to experience it in person changes everything. You will notice little details you that cannot be captured in a book.

Let me close with these suggestions. Done worry. Relax. Everything is going to be all right. For example, the language was the biggest issue I had while in Paris. Learning some key phrases and being polite worked wonders. Most businesses are more then willing to try and help you. Also, at this time of year, Paris does not get dark until almost 10:30 so plan for long days and little sleep. Go on walks at the end of the day to soak up the culture and reflect on your experiences.

Best wishes,

Robert Matthiesen

A Letter to Future Students

I think we can all perceive the value in international travel, and travel in general.  Growing up, my family didn’t take a lot of very diverse vacations, and I always felt like I missing out on something really important.  This study abroad program was the first time I had the opportunity to leave the United States, as well as one of the very few times I’ve left the midwest.  Changing up the scenery, even for a few weeks can really break a monotonous cycle of “The Everyday”.  I chose this particular program because since childhood, I was fascinated by Europe, especially France.  I want to say it has something to do with my love of the children’s story Madeline.  In high school, I studied French for a year, and really enjoyed learning a new language for the first time, and being exposed to culture much different from mine.  

This trip came at very opportune time, as second semester Junior year, I was beginning to fall in to a rut, not really seeing any grand purpose in the things I was making, and lacking an ultimate goal that was reasonable and attainable.  I think I expected going to Paris to be some sort of inner-artistic renaissance.  Looking forward to the trip, I knew it would change me in a big way, but upon reflecting, I am surprised by what kind of changes took place.  They surely weren’t the ones I was expecting.  Being exposed to so many incredible museums, and such a density of crucial art works, the physical existence of work that I admire became very real to me.  Reading about a work online or in a text book can give a lot of information about how a work is read and what it means, but approaching a work in it’s physical environment, in an environment highly considered by more people than just the artist, has a great cognitive effect.  Realizing this was a really critical moment in my experience, and helped me better define my purpose in the scheme of the art work, and how my place as a viewer, and understanding of what “viewership” means, can inform my own work.  

These kinds of revelations are likely due the rapidity that I was experiencing the city of Paris, and all of the amazing things it had to offer.  When I wasn’t think about my exhaustion, or missing friends back home, or day dreaming, I was thinking about the movement of viewers, and the way art and ideas control our bodies and minds when experiencing them.  Sometimes I find myself writing the same few sentences down in my journal, over and over again, when I can‘t quite wrap my head around them, but in Paris I was filling page after page with content and ideas at a pace that surpassed my expected capability.  I have this new motivation to seek out art viewing experiences.  I always enjoyed going to art openings, and gallery shows, but now I value this interaction more.  

I think my trip to London after the Paris experience was really important as well.  Being in Europe is a great opportunity that many Americans don’t have very often, and I felt it was important to make the most of one trip.  I was only in London for two full days, and because of this, I really had to do some extensive research on how I wanted to spend such a short time.  I found lists of galleries I really wanted to see, and made sure a visit to Tate Modern was in the mix as well.  Because my visits to Paris and London were consecutive, I was able to compare their cultures, and pin point the aspects that I admired about each.  In this way, I was able to understand the values I look for in a place to live.  I came to Paris, expecting to never want to leave, but I left Paris knowing that it was not a permanent location for me.  The city is beautiful, and there are many places and social practices I admire about Paris, but I didn’t always feel like my lifestyle was congruent with the Parisians.  London was a little closer to a city I could picture myself living in.  I see more value in being critical of one’s place in a culture, than dreaming of full immersion, because that’s just not possible.  I want to continue to travel, both domestic and internationally, not only to learn more about the world, but to find places which really jive with me.  

In terms of preparing oneself for this experience, I would say, to expect to be tired, but really happy about it, and to try and sleep on the plane, even if you’re too nervous or too excited.  I would stress not being disappointed when you realize that you miss home, because you likely will at some point.  You’re definitely going to want some ear plugs, and most importantly, a bag with wheels is a lot easier to maneuver than a duffel bag so heavy that you have to hug it to take it anywhere (just a few logistical suggestions).  But one thing I cannot stress enough on this trip, is time to oneself.  It’s really easy to just follow a small group around on this trip, but remember, you’re sending three weeks with these people, with very few breaks, so it’s really important to take time to experience Paris on your own.  Even if it’s just a walk in the morning, or deciding to split off for even 15 minutes when the opportunity arises.  This experiences is for your own, individual benefit when it comes down to it, so take a little while (or a long while, if you can) and let Paris be your only influence.   

- Amy Trompeter

To Future Students

Dear future study abroad student,

I want to tell you a little about my experience in Paris this summer. I’ll start by explaining where it all started and i’ll try and give you pointers along the way. I hope that you have a wonderful time on your own trip to Paris and that what I say here can be helpful to you!

Since freshman year I have attended maybe 3 or 4 of the travel abroad meetings. I have wanted to go every time but just couldn’t see it through. Every year my desire to travel continued to grow until sometime last summer when it bubbled over and I just decided it had to be done. I had just finished watching Midnight in Paris and consequently had my sights set on Paris all year. My initial intent was to spend a semester abroad and so I started looking into that right away. When that fell through I was pretty awfully disappointed until I heard that this trip was being offered. I was going to Paris. No if’s and’s or but’s. 

Upon arriving in Paris I quickly realized that it was both exactly and nothing like I had expected. Coming over on the train from the airport I saw out the window graffiti, buildings in ruins, and something much less glamorous than I had always imagined. I was pretty worried that this would be my experience from then on out. Coming up out of the metro stop near out hostel didn’t help that feeling much either. It certainly wasn’t the most glamorous of locations though i’m not sure what I was expecting, it was a hostel after all. Now don’t let my initial evaluation of the area deter you, that was just my face value judgement of the place. It turned out to be a pretty nice area.  The hostel itself though had some issues, more on that later...maybe.

Note to future students, don’t eat at Belushi’s. Just don’t. Except for the free breakfast of course. 

Moving on.

In the 2 weeks I was in Paris I experienced everything I had always wanted to see and be near and so much more. Going with this program meant experiencing places I would never have thought to have gone and getting to view things that very few people in the world get to see. As a design major I’m not terribly into museums and galleries and I certainly wouldn’t have known how much I would love the Musée Rodin or the Pompidou. Without the art historical expertise of Chris and the architectural knowledge of Eric  I never would have looked twice at the Saint Séverin Church, which turned out to be one of my favorite places that we visited. 

Without the guidance of professors who knew where the hidden gems were I would have only experienced half of Paris, and remained ignorant to its true beauty. 

Note to future students, when the professors recommend an area to go on your free day, or a restaurant, or just take you somewhere you don’t think you want to go, give it a chance first. I think you’ll end up liking it more than you think. 

This happened to me countless times during the trip. Whenever I heard we were going to another museum I felt a little disappointed because, as I mentioned, i’m not the biggest fan of museums, However when we got to each museum I always ended up really interested in what was there. I think I might be a museum person now...weird.

Now about the course work...if you’re like me and you don’t journal, and you can’t really draw, hearing that you have to keep a journal with detailed drawings in it makes you want to give up almost immediately. That’s exactly how I felt the first few days trying to write all of these ridiculous scales (you’ll find out about the scales). I couldn’t imagine wasting time writing in a journal instead of experiencing the place that I was in. I’m a person who is profoundly driven by experience and not very good at sitting still so for the first couple of days, this journal was my nightmare. But it got better.

Note to future students, just keep writing. Even if they are seemingly tiny, stupid little observations, write them down. Write along the side of your journal, make crazy diagrams with arrows all over the place and notes squished in the margins because you forgot to write it down initially. Just keep writing, and go ahead and attempt to draw too. Though it may not be pretty, you’ll feel more accomplished later. Promise. 

Now to some more practical things.

Take photos. Bring your big clunky nice camera and take thousands of photos. You’ll regret it later if you don’t! Also bring a power strip! This was never something I had considered until I saw it sitting there in the hostel and I thought...”What an ingenious idea! How did I not think of something so simple?!”. 

If anything is playing while you’re in France or traveling elsewhere afterwards, see a show! See the Opera, go to a musical, etc. it will be a night to remember for sure! Speaking of traveling elsewhere...do that! It doesn't cost that much to travel afterwards and it will be so good to relax after the course and experience another part of Europe. 

This trip to Paris was one I will never forget and will keep with me. It has given me the drive I needed to be a world traveler. I’ve gotten a taste, and I want more. I’m sure the same will happen to you. I wish you the best of luck on your own trip to Paris and hope you get as much out of it as I did. 

Sincerely,

Andrea

Enchantment by London

London England, how enchanting one may find a city to be. The arrival to this city was indeed magnificent. A ride upon the Eurostar provided ample transportation in a matter of hours with scenery so breathtaking. The immense speed that this train was going forth with…it created an environment quite unique. The clouds enchanted me. Never have I seen clouds quite like this before.

It was as if they were frozen in time, slowly being broken apart. I believe the rapidity of the train constructed this. Never before have I traveled at such an accelerated speed on land, ...where clouds – so close to the ground, I was able to see the whole that comprised of the form, in a seemingly static quality only because of the dynamic pace I was traveling at. I was instantly in awe, inspired - gazing out the window for most of the duration of the journey to London.

Upon arrival to London, the ecstatic quality of the city soon rubbed shoulders with me. There was already a significant culture difference in comparison to what I have perceived in Paris. I was giddy by the fact there would be far less confusion in communication; seeing as there was no prominent language barrier here.

The first day was slowly paced; settling in was much needed. However, the days to follow were leisurely lived, yet noticeably productive. These days were conducive to grand memories and experiences.

Second day in – A Tuesday, the itinerary for the day would be as followed: A visit to the Tate Modern, crossing the Millennium Bridge, a leisurely stroll around the city, visiting Buckingham Palace, and ending the evening with a proper dinner: Fish and Chips.

Third Day: A Visit to Abbey Road and Abbey Road Studios, a stroll through Green Park – this park not only grand in size, the atmosphere of the surrounding area was relaxed, exactly what I needed. A few galleries including Whitechapel Gallery and White Cube were visited, shopping at Fortnumand Mason – for gifts and tea, and sight seeing in Parliament Square...and a show - Singing in the Rain.

Fourth Day: Self-exploration of the city, a visit to the Design Museum for the Designs of the Year 2013 exhibition, a walk to The Gherkin, strolling across the Tower Bridge, and ending the evening once again with Fish and Chips and a lovely view of the city.

My time in London was well spent, and was as well conducive to a magnificent learning experience, and a marvelous gain in cultural awareness. I conceive an abundant fondness of London, and would enjoy visiting again someday…someday soon.

From a Kitchen in Kassel

Hello from a kitchen in Kassel!

Yes, a letter about Paris from a kitchen in Germany; how I ended up here is related to the matter at hand.

Prepare yourself for Paris as best you can, because no matter how prepared you are, if it’s your first time to the city, there are just some things you can’t even imagine to anticipate. It’s crushing, fast-paced, potent, and charmed—and that is just the city itself—combine that with the course and there are few words that describe it better than the word “whirlwind”. 

Even when our day was dedicated to one place or theme, the experience is so concentrated and we’re absorbing so much, that afterwards my head would feel heavy and floaty all at once. My mind would whir away with information and sensory overload, so having a plan to help you process through your experience can be crucial. 

Take advantage of the view—Paris loves to show off its city, whether sky high up in Notre Dame or out the window of a local café, Paris is about seeing and watching the world around you. 

Chris and Eric pack in a lot to do, and they are mindful of offering items and excursions for people from all majors and interests, but they can’t take you everywhere, so you have to be willing to seek out what interests you if it’s not in the curriculum. 

Push yourself to try new things, whether it’s as adventurous as trying escargot or something as simple as trying out your spotty French at a local patisserie—an approximation of the words and hand gestures can go a long way, though nothing is more invaluable than being polite and giving it a go. Challenge yourself in regard to the course, because Chris and Eric will no doubt push you to see and think in ways you may not be familiar with. 

Drink lots of coffee, eat more pastries than necessary, and wave at people from the metro trains; always depart with a bon journeé or bon soireé. Discover an artist you’ve never heard of before and pick them apart and put them back together. 

Have at least one group dance party and don’t worry if you never make it to the Eiffel Tower, you’ll always find it in the skyline. 

Bring comfortable shoes for miles of walking—that’s not really a suggestion. 

Your map is also pretty invaluable with its suggestions on places to go and its map of the metro

Research the free days and events throughout the city; Paris has a lot of great opportunities to experience things without paying a lot. Find a neighborhood you like and visit it as many times as you can—though it’s nice to try and visit as many places as once, frequent trips to the same place has just as much potential for new discoveries. My personal favorite was Le Marais—lots of independently owned shops, galleries, and book stores—check out the galleries and shops on rue Quincampoix.

Have a plan for your post-trip aftercare, whether you return to the States right away or continue with your travels, plan for a chance to decompress and reflect on your time in Paris. My route was to continue travelling—visiting friends in Germany and returning to my favorite places in Ireland—I knew I couldn’t return right away with a head full of thoughts and ideas, this additional travel has allowed me to put Paris in perspective outside its city limits. If you return home right away, plan some time to treat yourself with your favorite things you might have missed while you were abroad. 

Don’t take the opportunity for granted—whatever your experience of the trip or the city, you’ll have had a tremendous opportunity to travel somewhere most people haven’t and seen things even fewer people have seen, that’s a remarkable thing. Home will always be there when you get back, and it’s never far away even on a shoddy internet connection, so plant yourself in the place you find yourself and see what chance you have to grow.

From a kitchen in Kassel, this is Tanya signing off.