The Mount Holyoke News

Issue date: 3/12/09 Section: Perspectives

Boateng on the beach of Palavas, southern France

You often hear about students who spend their spring breaks at regularly frequented college hot spots in California or on Miami beach, or even cruising through the Bahamas and Cancun. But you rarely hear about Mount Holyoke women who sunbath on the renowned beaches of Côte d'Azur, also known as the French Riviera, in southern France. Nor can most students afford a nine-day journey to historical European capitals such as Barcelona, Rome, Prague and Berlin. These, however, are just a few of the spring break destinations Mount Holyoke students studying abroad in Montpellier, France will visit this year.

One of the advantages of participating in a study abroad program is the opportunity to travel and explore places that you usually wouldn't intend on visiting during school vacations due to lack of time or cost of the trip. But for me it has become more accessible and less expensive to travel to other European cities because of my current location.

Students with whom I spoke confirmed that almost all their travel plans have been influenced by the fact that they are studying in France this year. "I never travel outside the U.S. for spring break mainly because it takes too long to arrive at my desired destination. But this spring, I'm venturing off to Prague and Berlin for a week," said Kaitlin Leibowitz '10 studying abroad in Montpellier this year. The occasional discounts and special offers on trains and flights also make it more reasonable to travel on a student budget. "It's a lot more convenient and less expensive," added Anne Burley '10, who is heading to the romantic and historical city of Rome in Italy.

This year, I have decided to break my traditional spring break routine of hanging around Massachusetts or visiting friends in New York City. Instead, I will be sunbathing and enjoying the glistening sun on the beaches of Nice, Cannes and Saint Tropez. Who knows, I might even catch a glimpse of the Jolie-Pitt family-who own a house in Nice-taking an afternoon promenade around town.

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