Ali Goldstein
I'm a French literature major at American University in D.C. who likes writing, live music and learning languages. I studied at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques in Lille, France in Fall 2009 through an international exchange program.
Hometown: Michigan, D.C.
School: American University
Where I've Lived Abroad: Lille, France
Stories
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Insider Tips
France
Expect a lesson in pronunciation
Don't be offended when everyone you encounter wants to give you an impromptu French pronunciation lesson. People in Lille would turn around in line at the grocery store to ... read more
03 Feb 2009
France
Savor Sundays
The French Sunday ritual was my favorite part of studying in France. I awoke early to the sound of bells ringing at the ancient neighborhood church next door. After church ... read more
03 Feb 2009
France
Bring some books in English
There are many parts of France where English-language books are rare and expensive. Naively, I only packed two books with me when I flew to France, supposedly to make more ... read more
03 Feb 2009
France
Don't be alarmed to wake up in an art festival
I woke up early one of my first Sunday mornings in northern France to a woman banging loudly at the front door. Living with a host family, I cracked open ... read more
03 Feb 2009
France
"Paris to the Moon" by Adam Gopnik
In the months before leaving to study in France, I read travelogues voraciously. Almost all of them terrified me, speaking of French rudeness, struggles with the language, and impossible bureaucracy ... read more
03 Feb 2009
France
Techno, jazz, and everything in-between
Returning to my host family after a weekend traveling in Belgium, I found the door to the house swung wide open and boxes of old vinyl records flooding the lower ... read more
03 Feb 2009
France
Prepare to be compared to O.C. characters
"Were you a prom queen?" was the first question my host sister asked me when I spent the semester studying in northern France. All I could do was laugh. I ... read more
03 Feb 2009
France
Don't expect to keep to yourself in a cafe
The iconic French cafe evokes certain images: tiny espressos, chain smoking, and rambling, but intelligent, conversations. Whereas we get an enormous coffee and plug in to our lab tops, the ... read more
