The Gist of AIFS and its Relevance to Me

“The American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS) is an independent study abroad program. It is one of the oldest, largest, and most respected cultural exchange organizations in the world.”  –AIFS website

AIFS is the organization I chose to go with for my Spring 2013 semester abroad.

Let me make it a point to say however that I did not come to this decision without many nights of online research about other study abroad programs offered in my dreamland of France. Cheaper ones in particular.

What sold me was that this seemed like an organization that really knew its stuff. And that I finally concluded what I wanted out of my study abroad experience. By this I mean that it’s been around for over 50 years now and students reviews of the Cannes program were glowing. The program fee includes all the essentials and so much more. Apart of that “more” aspect is internship opportunities with the most prestigious film festival in the world, the Cannes Film Festival. You’ve probably heard of it or seen pictures from it on Yahoo. It’s a pretty big deal.

Cannes Film Festival 2012 poster

Pictures from last years festival: http://movies.yahoo.com/photos/2012-cannes-film-festival-slideshow/opening-ceremony-moonrise-kingdom-premiere-20120516-100021-206.html

The latter is probably one of my biggest reasons for choosing AIFS, but don’t be mistaken. It is not the be all, end all of my reasons. This is a very personal journey for me as well since I’ve always wanted to become fluent in French and study abroad in France. I’ll give credit to my mother, who at one point was fluent in French and ventured over there herself in high school. I would also have to give credit to crepes, childhood days of watching “Madeline”, and every picture of the Eiffel Tower I have seen in my entire life.

Chocolate Crepe. Courtesy of the French.

Madeline, my little French inspiration and childhood program of choice.

The Eiffel Tower

After a lengthy application process, I received official acceptance on Halloween day to spend 4 months on the French Riviera. I will be participating in the Cannes, France program for 2013.

Helpful links:

AIFS website: http://www.aifsabroad.com/

AIFS Cannes program page: http://www.aifsabroad.com/france/cannes/year1213/

Student reviews of the Cannes program: http://www.studyabroad101.com/programs/aifs-cannes-college-international-de-cannes

AIFS Itinerary for Spring 2013