Mia Werner

Mia Werner, a student majoring in French and Francophone Studies, participated in the Nantes Study Abroad Program during the 2022/2023 school year.

Major: French and Francophone Studies

Personal Experience Video

Testimonial

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

What was your most memorable experience while in Nantes? 

My most memorable experience while in Nantes was when our literature professor took us on a personal tour of the city to see some museums, historic buildings and monuments and treated us to a café at the most famous café in Nantes. It was not part of the program, but I think all of the students in my year will always remember it.  

How did having a host family make your time in Nantes more enjoyable? 

I had a great experience with my host family. They were extremely welcoming and always wanted to make sure that I was exploring and enjoying Nantes. It was nice to have someone to ask questions to outside of school concerning France, the culture, the city etc. It was also really nice to have some homecooked meals and even participate in the making of some very traditional French meals that I would not have tried otherwise (along with some amazing cheese and wine!). It helped me to have a better knowledge of the city and French culture and create some meaningful relationships along the way. 

Would you recommend having a host family? Why? 

I would 100% recommend having a host family. My host family in particular did not speak any English, which made it a better experience in my opinion. I found that being obligated to speak French for a few hours or even a couple days in a row really took me to another level with my speaking, accent, and understanding of French. It showed me what I was capable of and left me proud at the end of the day. It is also really nice to have someone to gently correct your mistakes and encourage you when you’re having troubles explaining something.

In what ways did your French improve while abroad? 

My French improved in all areas while abroad, but mostly with my speaking and listening skills. I now find that I don’t have to pre-think everything that I wish to say. I’m instead able to bypass the link (or translate in my head) between what I wish to say versus what I’m saying at that moment, making my speech a lot quicker and more fluid. I’m also able to use some slang or common slang that you would likely have a hard time learning in a non-immersed environment. I feel confident when speaking to French or Québécois people now, whereas I was quite nervous beforehand.

What was your favourite place to travel to and why? 

My favourite place to travel to was Prague, Czechia. I loved the nature feel of the city as well as the walkability – I rarely had to use transportation (though it was also easy to use!). I found that it was less busy compared to other cities (like Paris or Rome for example) which makes it a more comfortable place for me personally. I also liked that it had plenty of museums and monuments to help explain the history of the country and what curated the culture. The mountainous surroundings also provided the opportunity for some great views and photos of the city below. Lastly, the nightlife was great as well for a solo traveller (as I was at the time) – I felt quite safe as a young female walking around during the day alone (in the common areas of course). I would recommend seeing Prague to anyone that loves history and nature, as well as “old city” vibes.  

What’s one piece of advice you would give to future Nantes goers and why? 

I would advise future Nantes goers to go out and make some French friends if possible. Personally, I regret not building upon the relationships that I made whilst in France with other students, as it would have been very rewarding (and likely better for my French abilities!) if I had. The university has quite a few resources, but going out at night and being open to speaking to other young adults is a great way to meet people – they are usually quite interested in talking if they find out that you’re Canadian !  

What was your favourite place to travel to and why? 

My favourite place to travel to was Prague, Czechia. I loved the nature feel of the city as well as the walkability – I rarely had to use transportation (though it was also easy to use!). I found that it was less busy compared to other cities (like Paris or Rome for example) which makes it a more comfortable place for me personally. I also liked that it had plenty of museums and monuments to help explain the history of the country and what curated the culture. The mountainous surroundings also provided the opportunity for some great views and photos of the city below. Lastly, the nightlife was great as well for a solo traveller (as I was at the time) – I felt quite safe as a young female walking around during the day alone (in the common areas of course). I would recommend seeing Prague to anyone that loves history and nature, as well as “old city” vibes.  

How did you enjoy school in Nantes compared to Trent? What were some differences? 

Schooling in Nantes versus Trent was quite different – mostly based on the layout of the program. In Nantes, we were a small group that attended all classes together, which made us grow quite close both as a group and with the professors since it was such an intimate setting. It was less work school-wise, but a lot more work in-class when it came to participation, which I wasn’t used to but happy to accept as it forced me to work on my speaking and quick-thinking skills. I enjoyed school in Nantes quite a bit. I must add that the occasional planned outings with the professors (museums, concerts etc.) were a nice way to experience the culture and understand the history of the city – something that you may be hard-pressed to find at Trent. 

What was the biggest difference you found between France and Canada? 

This question is quite difficult to answer. Personally, as a people person, I found it difficult to adjust to the more reserved culture of the French at first. It is not so often that a stranger may approach you and comment on the weather or ask a question for example as it is in Canada. After a bit of time, this feeling went away but it is interesting to experience – the French wear their emotions on their sleeve!

How was the food? 

The food was to die for. The cheese is like no cheese I’ve ever had before, as it’s created differently there under different processes than what is allowed in Canada. The wine is also amazing. Originating in Ontario, I was not used to eating very much seafood (my mother is also allergic), so the seafood of the west coast of France was refreshing and quite good ! I tried oysters, muscles, frog legs, raclette and escargot for the first time – all of which were very interesting and tasty. I must credit my host family for helping to prepare a lot of new foods for me to try !  

How was the transportation? 

Transportation in France will make you wonder what’s taking Canada so long to find a better system ! In Nantes, the trams ran every 5-15 minutes depending on the time of day, so you never had to wait long to get downtown or to the grocery store for example. The bussing system was also quite effective. In terms of travelling outside of Nantes, the train system was amazing and if you paid slightly more than the cheapest ticket, you’d be able to get to some places in less than half the time if you were to take a car ! The SNCF or TGV (like the Go-train for Ontario) can travel up to 300km/h ! They were also quite comfortable. Flying around Europe was also a breeze if you’re traveling on a budget. Ryanair consistently offered cheap flights all over Europe if you had a small enough pack, which was great for us students ! Tickets were often less than 100 Euro for a return trip to Nantes for a 4-day weekend.  

How were the residences? 

I had no problem with the residences. Considering that we did not spend a lot of time in the residences (as we were out exploring…), they were perfect for a quick meal and having a comfortable place to rest. The outer areas were cleaned daily and other students were quite respectful of the facilities. It was also an amazing experience to have your own personal bathroom (despite the fact that it was a small area!).

How were the people? 

As mentioned prior, the people were a bit challenging to get used to until you understand the culture – like I said, the French wear their emotions on their sleeve! They are also quieter in public. Meeting my host family was quite nice though, as they were very welcoming and excited for me to experience French culture and the city. I would say that the people are nice if you have the chance to get to know them. When I was solo-travelling with my luggage through Paris, I found that many people were willing to help with my bags if they saw that I was struggling (always watch for pick-pockets and scams though!).  

Would you go back to Nantes? Why? 

I would 100% go back to Nantes, I miss it quite a bit! I feel as though I barely scraped the surface of the city during the 4 months that I was there – there are so many events to help you get involved and many things to do! The city was also quite picturesque and full of nature, which made it feel a bit more like home. I wish I could go back.