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Meet Sarah Peyer Shum

I am a third year student at Concordia born and raised in Costa Rica! I speak fluent spanish, english and french and would love to speak about my exchange experience in France with anyone interested in embarking on such a unique experience. If you're still thinking about applying for CSEP or not don't hesitate to speak to me! 

Paris, France: SEP W24 Sarah Peyer Shum

Program: Psychology

 

Level: Undergraduate

 

Host Country: France

 

Host Institution: Paul Valery III Montpellier 

 

Exchange Semester: Winter 2024

 

Languages Spoken: Spanish, English, French

My experience abroad

Hike, Montpellier, France: CSEP W24 Sarah Peyer Shum

 

The one thing I wished I would have known before going on exchange is…

The difference ways of teaching, especially the professor/student relationships, as well as some more knowledge on hoe the educational system in France works to be able to choose my classes and schedule more easily.  

I recommend going on exchange because...

You get away from your comfort zone, you meet people and places that you never thought you would and you become a stronger and more independent person. 

A tip I would give to students applying for exchange is...

Take a chance, you never know what you will miss if you don't go, and if you're still hesitant speak to others that have gone on exchange and ask them about the pros and cons. 

The biggest cultural shock I experienced was…

The relationship between teachers and students is much different than that from Concordia, I found that teachers were much colder and strict at my host university. I also realized that French students at my University could seem a bit cold at first and finding other international students was challenging. 

Want to learn more about what an exchange in France would be like?

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