Maia Dobie - Trent Study Abroad Program

Maia Dobie, a student majoring in French and Francophone Studies, participated in the Nantes Study Abroad Program during the 2021/2022 school year.

Major: French and Francophone Studies

Testimonial

Click on the tabs below to see what she thought of the experience!

What was your most memorable experience while in Nantes?: I really loved how much there is to do in Nantes. It is a great city for students and I was constantly meeting new friends and exploring the city. Once I got comfortable in the environment I found it quite easy to meet other international students and locals!
How did having a host family make your time in Nantes more enjoyable?: I really liked my host family and was typically able to go for dinners at their house once a week! They gave me suggestions on where to explore, took me on trips around the coast and really helped with my spoken French.
In what ways did your French improve while abroad?: I was able to improve my written and oral French while in Nantes. English is not widely used which made it really easy to only speak french.
What was your favourite place to travel to and why?: I loved exploring all the beautiful countries Europe has to offer however I absolutely loved travelling to Malta as it was such a unique trip for me! If you’re looking for something close-by, Pornic is a scenic little town on the ocean that you can get to by bus straight from downtown Nantes.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to future Nantes goers and why?: Try to get out and meet as many new people as you can, the time will go by fast and before you know it it’ll be time to head back home. If I could change one thing about my study abroad experience I would’ve made a bigger effort to meet new people.
How did you enjoy school in Nantes compared to Trent? What were the differences between the two?: I really enjoyed the education experience l’université de Nantes had to offer. The classes were super small and it really felt like the professors were invested in our learning and progress!
What was the biggest difference you found between France and Canada?: I would say the biggest difference for me was the accessibility around the country. Travelling across Ontario is quite difficult – let alone Canada. France is obviously quite a bit smaller, but the transportation offered was efficient and cheap compared to Canada. I would take advantage of this to explore as much of France as possible!
How was the food?: The food was great and very accessible. I was able to cook all my meals in my kitchen at residence. In France it’s more common to buy less food but go shopping several times throughout the week instead of one large haul. I enjoyed this as it allowed me to try new things and keep my food fresh.
How were the people?: I have to say the stereotypes about Canadians are true. Although I wouldn’t say the French are unfriendly, they definitely tend to keep to themselves in comparison to students at Trent.
Would you go back to Nantes?: I would absolutely go back to Nantes as I felt like there just not enough time to explore everything the city had to offer.