Ava Scott ’28 recently traveled to France during the Spring 2026 3-week term. She previously traveled to Germany and Austria in Fall 2025 to study “Creativity and Community in Berlin and Austria”. Taking all of the opportunities available to her at Hiram, she chose to study abroad again, this time taking a course titled “Culture and Ethics in Food”. Read more about her experience below:
“France must truly be a marvelous place,” I thought to myself as I got off the plane at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. The study abroad trip I was embarking on now suddenly seemed too real to me; it was like coming out of a daze. I was finally in France.
As far as I can remember, I have wanted to travel. One aspect I liked about Hiram College when I first came here was how expressive the school is about exploring other cultures and trying new things. When the France study abroad trip was formally announced, I knew the moment had come when I would finally experience a rich culture firsthand.
The course for this trip, Culture and Ethics of Food, was an easy and enriching way to experience France to the fullest. The dishes served in France are vastly difference than ours back in the United States, and to ease us into understanding these differences, we studied how the French mindfully engage with food and how it has grown to be an important part of the culture there. In France, food is often treated as an art form. As we were learning to engage thoughtfully in our interactions with food, this became a segue into understanding the French perspective in other ways. As an English major, I love learning about the literature and history of other countries, which we were heavily engrossed in during the trip. We visited countless historical sites, such as the Palace of Versailles, and museums like the world-famous Louvre art museum. If you know me, you know that I get really invested in these sorts of places.
One of the first sites we visited was, of course, the Eiffel Tower. As we trekked up the 1,665 stairs that make up the structure, we learned about how the tower was built as a main attraction for the 1889 World’s Fair. It was only meant to be temporary, however, as it was constructed for the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. Despite being known as an architectural marvel to us today, the French initially hated it, many considering the tower to be quite ugly and in poor taste. As Americans, we view the Statue of Liberty as a mainstay in our culture and as an important symbol of the freedoms the United States values. Over time, the French began to begrudgingly respect the tower, and it has become a valuable piece of who they are.
Other sites still exist as remnants of the long-ago revolution that shaped France so drastically. Still controversial is the Palace of Versailles. Once the epitome of wealth and lavishness of the French monarchy, it is now used for educational tours and for the citizens of France to enjoy it as they like. The palace now serves as a reminder of the tremendous struggle the common people went through during the revolution. Though there were lots of people on the grounds when we visited, there was a stillness and silence that pervaded the place, like the feeling you get from a memorial. I suppose it is one of a sort.
Then, we went to one of my favorite places from the whole trip: the Louvre art museum! The Louvre was absolutely stunning, so much so that I do not think words can accurately describe the feelings I felt there. Of course, we had to take a glance at the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo (one of my favorite sculptures, if you care to know), but what I appreciated most about the museum was the other artistic gems slipping the notice of the many hordes of people, such as the ancient section of the museum. I was elated when I saw the ancient Greek and Roman relics, jewelry, and works of art. I am a massive history nerd with an affinity for ancient civilizations, so this visit was absolutely a highlight of the trip!
From Paris, we took the railway system to Lyon, where we visited the basilica Notre Dame de Fourvière, the city’s dedication to the Virgin Mary. Though it took a long time to finally reach the hill it was set upon, it was worth it. It is very special to members of the Catholic church, who flock to it in the millions annually. When I entered, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of peace, and even taking a mere glance around the place was enough to take your breath away with its high gilded ceilings and the minutely detailed carvings on the architecture. The whole building is a work of art in itself, and it made me wonder why we don’t take the time to appreciate and make beautifully crafted art like this anymore.
After Lyon, we traveled to Marseille. Another favorite from this visit was the Château d’If, the prison in which the fictional Edmond Dantes escapes from in The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. It wasn’t much of what one would expect a prison to look like from the outside. It is more like an elegant stone fort, which is what it was originally intended for. Located on a small island surrounded by bright red poppies and seagulls, it seemed a pleasant place. As an English major, of course this was very exciting for me. I felt like a kid on Christmas! The Chateau was one of the last places we went to before leaving to return to the United States, and I was sad to go. Through the study abroad program, I have gained experiences I would have never otherwise had and formed strong friendships. Not only does traveling broaden your horizons, but it also broadens your perspective on yourself and how you view the world.
Written by: Ava Scott ’28
Scott is an english major and writing minor. She works with Writers in Residence and the Hiram Poetry Review and participates in the Theatre Guild and Dunegons & Dragons Club.
