A participant in the Hamilton in France program for the academic year of 2021-22, Maya has been living and studying in Paris for several months now. In this new Paris Portrait, she shares what she has already gained from her experience here.

Bonjour tout le monde! My name is Maya Nguyen-Haberneski and I’m a Theatre major/French minor at Hamilton College.

Studying in Paris has been an adventure to say the least! I’ve watched several plays, each of them bringing me to a different arrondissement. I’ve learned about love through reading 18th century French comedies (very specific I know). 

Yet, perhaps the most exciting opportunity that I’ve had, in terms of academics, was being able to adapt James Cameron’s 1997 film Titanic into a musical. Even though these courses were difficult at times, I’m grateful for being able to learn French by studying subjects I’m interested in.

Outside of classes, I’ve found that people who were previously mere acquaintances at Hamilton have become my close friends. Together, we’ve been able to explore Paris and France, doing everything from eating desserts, playing tennis, and taking a walk at night through a breath-taking holiday light display.

Given everything that I learned this semester, both inside and outside the classroom, I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the next!

[Photos courtesy of Maya Nguyen-Haberneski]