Follow along with Oxford Academia students at the American University of Paris as they settled into their seminars and found a fashionable groove.
At this point, we have all fallen into the rhythm of the program, and students are feeling comfortable with navigating the city. This weekend, they’ll have the opportunity to take their activities into their own hands! In the classroom, planning for final projects is well underway and students are expected to have a firm grasp on their key course concepts.
Streets of Paris
We talked in the classroom about designing our ideal street. We also talked about our hobbies and interests when visiting new cities before looking at a very interesting Art Nouveau building located a few steps from our campus. We then took the bus to visit les Marché des Enfants rouges for lunch. In the afternoon, we took a stroll to the Marais.
Art History
On Friday, Art History majors traveled to the Musée Rodin to explore both the gardens (including The Thinker!) and the interior of the gallery (Rodin’s former studio). Following a leisurely lunch, we indulged in ice cream at Amorino. Then we continued to the Beaubourg neighborhood to discuss the architectural structure and cultural hub of the Centre Pompidou, as well as the Stravinsky fountain, built by artists Niki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tingly in preparation for the Grand Palais.
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Fashion Design & Culture
This morning was career day for fashion majors! We reviewed and discussed the many career paths within the fashion industry, ranging from sales associate to creative director to supply chain planner. Later in the morning, students participated in a mock showroom. With a hypothetical budget of $500k, students were tasked with creating an assortment of products while following quantitative and qualitative criteria. After lunch, we headed to La Galèrie Dior and enjoyed the many exhibits. Finally, we enjoyed some sweet desserts at Café Dior.
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Law & Society
Today, we went today to the quartiers latins; marveled at the Palais de Justice, Notre Dame; and visited the Shakespeare & Co. bookstore. We then headed to La Sorbonne to speak about public education; the history of the school itself; the May ’68 revolutions; Simone de Beauvoire, Gisèle Halimi, and the French Feminist movement. We then passed close to the Panthéon, crossed the Jardin du Luxembourg and its palace that became the French Senate, and considered the 1980s legislation that led, among many other things, to the end of the death penalty. We finished in front of the Danton statue in Odéon. Students stayed in the neighborhood to have lunch. In the afternoon, we met in the classroom to discuss their final projects and talked about the EU and the way it functions.
French Cuisine
The French Cuisine Major visited a chocolate museum to learn about the history and evolution of cacao and chocolate—from the South American rainforest to becoming one of the world’s most loved delicacies. In addition to sampling different types of chocolate and watching virtual chefs prepare a delicious chocolate praline, the group learned how cacao was and continues to be closely tied to culture.
Evening Activities
To celebrate the end of a long—but rewarding!—first week, students could choose between several activities: a tour of Parc des Princes, home of PSG, the French national football team; a night out at the very first underground jazz club in Paris, Le Caveau de la Huchette; an evening reading in the Jardin du Luxembourg; or a visit to the Palais de Tokyo art museum in the 16ème arrondissement.
Parc des Princes – PSG
Jazz Club
Jardin du Luxembourg
Palais de Tokyo
À demain!
To learn more about our Oxford Academia program at The American University of Paris, click here!