Intercultural Learning Resources Intercultural Learning Resources An important aspect of studying away is the opportunity for you to learn more about your chosen host country: history, culture, and customs. We encourage you to begin researching some of the challenges and opportunities you may encounter, and plan ahead by identifying people and resources that can help you make the most of your experience away. The information below offers brief descriptions of topics to consider in Paris, and France more broadly, as well as access to people, resources, and programs you can connect with before and after you get there. Intercultural Learning Liaison Denis Agayi, Residential Life Coordinator Intercultural Learning Liaisons are staff members who create programming, provide support to students, and connect them with appropriate local resources related to intercultural learning. Intercultural Learning Fellow The Intercultural Learning Fellows are student leaders and community builders who serve as a resource for their study away cohort and develop programming around intercultural learning. Hello everyone! My name is Manu, and I’m currently a junior studying Global Liberal Studies with a concentration in Law, Ethics, History, and Religion, and a double major in Philosophy with a minor in French. In my professional journey, I aim to combine my passion for languages and education with my dedication to humanitarian aid and international collaboration. As your Intercultural Learning Fellow for NYU Paris, I’m thrilled to create service projects and discussion spaces to build a community. My ultimate goal is to create a support network rooted in respect that uses art as a mediating instrument to help students navigate the challenges and adventures of studying abroad. Excited to meet all of you and create a home away from home for us all! Hi this is Hongjian, a senior in the Bachelor-Master accelerated track in Comparative Literature. As a Chinese international student, on the one hand I felt the urgent need for equity both from the experiences of my friend and my own, on the other hand, I benefited a lot from the equitable environment that NYU provided for me. Therefore, it is at same time both my concern and my wish to give back to my community that I choose to pursue this role. Topics to Explore The below-listed information is guidance on cultural norms, trends, and patterns and is based on recent review of secondary source materials and reporting to the Office of Global Programs.  While the below may not be true in each and every case, we provide the below as background information for your consideration. If you are a student with disabilities, you will find a broad range of services and accommodations. In modern areas and establishments, there are sidewalk ramps, dropped curbs, accessible facilities and the like. However, France takes pride in its history and architecture, so many buildings in France are centuries old and may have limited accommodations. The same amount of accommodations are hard to find in smaller cities and towns outside of Paris. Additional Links: Accessible Paris Guide Paris Wheelchair Accessibility Guide Paris is an expensive city. The price of goods and services are high whether you are eating out or buying groceries. However, there are always ways around spending a lot of money on fun things to do. You can expect to spend around $280 on transit throughout the semester. Groceries are about 29.92 percent lower in Paris than in NYC. Likewise, the cost of airfare and immigration will come out to be around $3,000. These numbers will vary depending on your spending patterns. Additional Links: Cost of Living in Paris Top 11 Free Things To Do in Paris France is thought to be a very safe country, however, women traveling alone should follow ‘common sense’ safety precautions as they would in the US. Women studying in France can expect a similar level of respect and protection. According to UN Women, about 9 percent of women experience sexual violence from a non-partner during their lifetimes. Overall, France is ranked as 19th in the Gender Inequality Index. Additional Links: France’s Actions for Women’s Rights and Equality French Women Targeted By Sexist Comments Gender Equality Index: France (PDF) French society considers themselves to be highly tolerant and upholds LGBTQ+ rights. The government legalized same-sex marriage in 2013 and has passed laws protecting individuals and groups from all hate crimes and discrimination based on sexuality. There are many gay clubs, bars, and businesses across France. You will likely be able to find a community of friends, groups, organizations, and establishments. However, more conservative areas around France may not be as welcoming to LGBTQ+ folk as Paris. Additional Links: LGBT Paris France was a major world colonizer, which expanded the Francophone world to parts of the Americas, the Middle East, Africa, and Oceania. In the post-colonial period, immigration from these areas diversified urban France. Students of color planning to study abroad in France will find a country that is very knowledgeable about life in the US and some find France to be less prejudiced than many parts of the US. Around the city, you will be able to find businesses and retailers selling goods and services specific to a diverse set of communities. Additional Links: SOS Racism (French language) France Doesn’t See Race (Officially) Divercities: Paris As French society has increased in ethnic diversity, so too has its religious diversity. Although the country is predominantly Roman Catholic, the number of regular church worshippers continues to dwindle. During the same time, there has been a growth in the number of worshippers of Islam and a small community of Protestant and Jewish populations. Contentious as relations between the sizeable Muslim community and the wider French society may be, practicing openly and in peace is still possible in the hundreds of mosques across France. Additional Links: French Jewish History Tour Islam in France The ‘New Anti-Semitism’ in France 2018 Report on International Religious Freedom: France We encourage you to research more about religious and spiritual communities in France. Having a background knowledge of the history, demographics and laws will ease your transition into your new country. Here are a few places to start your research: U.S. State Department’s International Religious Freedom Report Pew Research Center You may also want to reflect on the role religion and/or spirituality play in your life now, and what your expectations or needs are for your time away. Questions to consider: Do you have a strong connection and/or sense of belonging to a religious or spiritual group? Do you have a prayer or meditation space? Do you go to certain places for dietary needs? Do you celebrate certain holidays? Are these holidays you would want to celebrate during study away? Fall: August 15 | September 15 (Visiting) Spring: January 15 | February 15 (Visiting) Summer: February 15 (NYU and Visiting)