Grant Moore
UMBC Faculty-Led: French in France
Majors: Psychology and Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies
Pre-Law Track
Jump To: Predeparture Post
Predeparture Post
Bonjour, tout le monde (Hello, everybody)! My name is Grant Moore, and I’m a rising junior double-majoring in Psychology and Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies on the Pre-Law track. I am beyond excited to be writing as the Study Abroad Ambassador for the “French in France” Faculty-Led Abroad Program for Summer 2026! Starting this Monday, I’ll be engaging in a unique experience, studying French language and culture at CIDEF, an international French language school within Université Catholique de l’Ouest. As a student going abroad for the second time, I am thrilled to explore the town of Angers, France, and beyond on this journey, expanding my love for global learning!
Studying abroad has always been a dream of mine. Expanding my learning beyond the American perspective and learning from communities and scholars around the world ties really closely to my professional aspirations, which include community-focused advocacy work in the realm of law. However, being a D1 student-athlete on our Men’s Swimming and Diving team at UMBC made a semester-long abroad journey unfeasible. So, finding our faculty-led summer programs has been a blessing! I started my journey abroad with the Global Community Engagement and Social Change Program last summer in Cape Town, South Africa. As a Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar, I was able to travel with fellow scholars through that sponsored trip, creating lasting memories and sparking my continued interest in faculty-led programs. It was fascinating to navigate cultural differences, speak with people in local communities, and generally get a sense for different ways of life. In South Africa, even though we were in a major city, everything had a level of relaxation that we don’t have here in the United States. They foster a collectivist identity rather than an individualistic culture, and caring for one another is a top priority. I think breaking out of your comfort zone and actually living in a different country for the first time is a “canon event,” and it’s an opportunity to learn more about both yourself and communities around the globe.
Now, what got me to choose the French in France program, you may ask? The simple answer is…my heritage. I have tons of extended family members who live in France, and I’ve been studying the language and culture since I was in intermediate school. Between daily Duolingo lessons, classes at school, and the occasional children’s cartoon with the captions switched to “français,” I have now built a foundation in French, which I hope to strengthen through this trip! I’ve interacted with my family from France several times, but I want to explore the country where my family’s name originated. And, what better place to do that than in Angers, France’s greenest city with a rich medieval history! I think having a foundation from studying abroad will be helpful in Angers, because I’m aware of how my body reacts to new environments and extended travel. I do have to say, though, that the flight to Paris (7.5 hours) will be much easier than my flight to Cape Town (16.5 hours)! Once I arrive at the airport in Paris, my host family and professor will be meeting me at the train station to head over to Angers; then, the following day, I will be taking my placement test to decide my coursework for the program! We already completed half of the placement test, which determines our fluency in French through listening and reading comprehension. Now, we’ll be doing the in-person portion of that test, which may include oral communication and other listening questions. That’s one unique thing about this program, though: you don’t know the level of your course until you actually get to the University! I will say that it’s leaving me a little on edge just because I’m a “Type A” kinda guy who wants to have his study plans laid out weeks before the semester starts. But that’s just another way I will be pushed outside of my comfort zone, which is an opportunity to grow!
When I studied abroad in Cape Town, I journaled nearly every day of the program, sitting in our accommodation’s living room by the fireplace, detailing daily adventures and recounting conversations with locals. Now, I have both that opportunity AND this blog to keep my memories fresh and alive! I truly treasure my journals because they are memories I can read back to my kids one day. I can relive my teenage years and reflect on the people, places, food, and unforgettable conversations that made studying abroad so special.
Before I head to France, I’ve been hanging out with friends and family to say some goodbyes before they don’t see me for a while! I’m originally from Goshen, NY (about 1.5 hours North of NYC), so it was nice to have a getaway and explore New England. I watched the Congressional Baseball Game in Washington, D.C., at Nationals Stadium, saw the Massachusetts and Connecticut state capitol buildings, and went to the beach in Rye, NH! Now, I’m back in Baltimore, getting my last bits of diving training in and hanging out with friends and teammates before I depart. I’m writing this with just four days until I depart, so, for now, I’ll leave you with an “au revoir” and “à bientôt” (“goodbye” and “see you soon”)!