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University of New Hampshire Athletics
Wildcat Summer - Ava Watkins
8/1/2018 4:40:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics, Academics
Hi Wildcats! My name is Ava Watkins and I am a rising junior on the gymnastics team from Cherry Hill, N.J. I had always dreamed of studying abroad but as an athlete, I thought I had to accept that it just wasn't possible. That was until I found out about short summer programs. I discovered a program in Toulouse, France that offered one course, International Marketing, that covered a requirement for both my major as an International Business & Economics student as well as my minor in International Affairs.
I decided this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up, so I packed my bags and headed to France for my four-week program. Little did I know this would be one of the best months of my life. Check out my Wildcat Summer!
TOULOUSE: HOME AWAY FROM HOME
I was part of a Business and Culture program hosted by CIEE, an outside study abroad program. I had not met anyone in my program before arriving but was pleasantly surprised at how close everyone had become by the end.
I lived in a small apartment with a roommate who was also a part of my program in a perfect location that was only a 20-minute walk to the city center. I had acclimated very quickly to the area and was relieved at how easy the metro and public transportation were to figure out. I had class every day from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and then I was able to walk around the quaint city to find lunch with my classmates for an hour before returning to class for our next session from 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
I fell in love with the French culture that truly emphasis on the quality of life, with hour-long lunches and overall stress-free living. I enjoyed trying all the tiny restaurants in the area and all the fresh food markets with delicious loaves of bread, fruits and cheeses. Toulouse truly felt like home to me by the end of my journey and my classmates turned into family. Although four weeks does not seem like a long time, and it certainly flew by, but I learned so much about myself and the city I was living in and it taught me to appreciate every moment.
ALBI: FRENCH PYRENEES
My study abroad program provided group trips for our session and one of my favorite locations was Albi. A little over an hour bus ride from Toulouse, this location was straight out of a magazine. We got to visit a llama farm and just enjoy the amazing scenery. I was mesmerized by the way of life and the idea someone lived here and woke up to these spectacular views every morning.
We then stayed in a hostel at night and had a delicious French home-cooked meal. Something I found interesting while being in France is the huge social aspect surrounding food and meals. As we sat down for dinner there were at least three courses and you couldn't expect to leave the table within two hours. They really enjoy their meal time, which isn't just eating but socializing as well. On this trip, we also got to visit a Duck Foix Gras farm and witnessed the process of making it, as well as visiting the Chateau de Foix.
THE FRENCH RIVIERA: NICE & MONACO
Although during the week I had class, I did have my weekends off where I was given the freedom to do what I wanted. One of the first places I wanted to visit on my journey was Nice, France. On my first three-day weekend I and three other classmates hopped on an overnight, 8-hour bus ride, which was painful but worth it, to the French Riviera.
We booked a hostel that was only a 10-minute walk to the beach and I have never been to a more beautiful area. We bought a tourist package and got the opportunity to go on a Segway tour across the stunning ocean, a boat tour with amazing views of the port and a chance to go snorkeling and see beautiful reefs and fish.
I found a bus that rode along the coast to Monaco for only $2 and 45 minutes long. We spent our last day of the trip walking around the second smallest and most expensive country in the world (I paid $6 for a plastic water bottle.) Fun Fact, three Bond movies were filmed in the infamous Monaco Casino and of course, the city is the host to the Monaco Grand Prix.
PARIS: THE CITY OF LOVE
My next free weekend me and two of my classmates, who turned into great friends, visited the city of Paris. We again hopped on an overnight bus and ended in "The City of Love." We bought tickets to the Louvre, which is one of the largest and most important museums in the world, and saw the Mona Lisa and many more extremely impressive works of art. It is so large you could spend an entire week discovering and learning the museum.
We, of course, visited the notorious Eiffel Tower and treated ourselves to speculoos crepes. It was just as impressive as you could imagine. Other places we visited were Notre Dame and Le Jardin du Luxembourg, but my favorite part was just walking the charming streets and visiting the delightful French boutiques. As much as I loved my weekend ventures to exciting new areas I always was comforted by the idea of returning to my home in Toulouse.
TRAINING: TOULOUSE STYLE
As soon as I reached Toulouse I made finding a place to work out as a priority. I found a gym with multiple locations in my area. This made training super accessible and simple.
Something I had to get used to while being in France, especially while working out, is the lack of air conditioning and the regular 90-degree weather. This was tough. The French are very conservative when it comes to energy and water consumption. I began to get used to this difference and noted that I will never take for granted the air conditioning while working out at home. As someone that really enjoys a planned schedule I found time to schedule my gym sessions before class every day from 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
Another plus to living in the city, for my athletic goals, is that I am constantly active. I made an effort to walk everywhere and always took the stairs instead of the escalator. Most days I walked about 8-10 miles, and this was enjoyable because I could really discover the city to the fullest. I would find new parks or cozy cafes throughout my journeys every day forcing me to fall in love with the area more and more.
FRANCE: THE WORLD CUP
As a soccer fan, I could not have come to France at a better time. When I arrived in France the World Cup had just begun, and it gave me and my classmates a great way to bond. Every time France was playing in a game we made the effort to meet up at a restaurant or a park to watch together. As the games passed and the French began to accelerate in the rankings the more the city came alive. It was amazing seeing the whole city come together to support their team.
I, of course, became a huge French soccer fan and was ecstatic along with the rest of the country when the French made it to the final. I loved being able to immerse myself in the soccer culture since it holds such a cultural importance in the country. Extremely excited and nervous I watched the final with my study abroad group at the local park where it was projected on a large screen. Being in France as the French team won the World Cup, first time since 1998, was a once in a lifetime experience and something I will never forget. This was an amazing way to end my trip, as the entire country came together to celebrate their nationalism.
MY LEARNING EXPERIENCE
As I studied International Marketing I got a chance to visit some local businesses and really get an idea of the culture here in France. For example, we went to Airbus which is in Toulouse and one of the biggest manufacturers of civil transport air crafters competing with Boeing. This was exciting to see how they sell and produce their products worldwide.
We also visited a local hospital where they explained the business side of the healthcare system. Everyone in France has access to free basic healthcare and doesn't have to worry about medical bills, which is very different than the U.S. They also offer a free college education to all students. Even further education, such as medical or grad school, is also covered by the state because they are a socialist country.
Other cultural differences I noticed was the polychronic way of life. The French typically work 35-hour work weeks, get 6 weeks paid vacation and retire at age 60. They rely heavily on the leisure time and care less about materialistic things. Learning more about the culture and lifestyle opened my eyes to the differences in the world.
MADRID/BARCELONA SPAIN: OUTSIDE TRAVEL
As my study abroad portion of the trip came to an end, it was time to leave France. Luckily, I had made plans to meet up with a friend in Spain, so I wasn't headed back to the States quite yet. I spent a little over a week discovering quaint tapas restaurants, viewing stunning cathedrals, relaxing in breathtaking parks or by the ocean and of course shopping for hours on end. Here I was able to note the differences between all the places I have been to and really cherish them.
I have learned to love trying new things and challenging myself. I have learned to stay positive and calm in all situations, because we all know or can assume traveling in a foreign country alone can be extremely stressful at times. And of course, I learned how extremely grateful and appreciative I feel to have been able to embark on this extraordinary journey, which has only fueled my love for travel, culture and acceptance more.
And as much fun as I had abroad, this trip also made me realize how happy and lucky I am to be at UNH and be on the gymnastics team and how eager I am to get back on campus with all my friends and finally be somewhere I can call "home" again.
Keep checking back to UNHWildcats.com for more of the "Wildcat Summer" series.
Previous Wildcat Summer Stories:
Sarah Nadeau, Women's Skiing
Jack Doherty, Men's Soccer
I decided this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up, so I packed my bags and headed to France for my four-week program. Little did I know this would be one of the best months of my life. Check out my Wildcat Summer!
TOULOUSE: HOME AWAY FROM HOME
I was part of a Business and Culture program hosted by CIEE, an outside study abroad program. I had not met anyone in my program before arriving but was pleasantly surprised at how close everyone had become by the end.
I lived in a small apartment with a roommate who was also a part of my program in a perfect location that was only a 20-minute walk to the city center. I had acclimated very quickly to the area and was relieved at how easy the metro and public transportation were to figure out. I had class every day from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and then I was able to walk around the quaint city to find lunch with my classmates for an hour before returning to class for our next session from 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
I fell in love with the French culture that truly emphasis on the quality of life, with hour-long lunches and overall stress-free living. I enjoyed trying all the tiny restaurants in the area and all the fresh food markets with delicious loaves of bread, fruits and cheeses. Toulouse truly felt like home to me by the end of my journey and my classmates turned into family. Although four weeks does not seem like a long time, and it certainly flew by, but I learned so much about myself and the city I was living in and it taught me to appreciate every moment.
ALBI: FRENCH PYRENEES
My study abroad program provided group trips for our session and one of my favorite locations was Albi. A little over an hour bus ride from Toulouse, this location was straight out of a magazine. We got to visit a llama farm and just enjoy the amazing scenery. I was mesmerized by the way of life and the idea someone lived here and woke up to these spectacular views every morning.
We then stayed in a hostel at night and had a delicious French home-cooked meal. Something I found interesting while being in France is the huge social aspect surrounding food and meals. As we sat down for dinner there were at least three courses and you couldn't expect to leave the table within two hours. They really enjoy their meal time, which isn't just eating but socializing as well. On this trip, we also got to visit a Duck Foix Gras farm and witnessed the process of making it, as well as visiting the Chateau de Foix.
THE FRENCH RIVIERA: NICE & MONACO
Although during the week I had class, I did have my weekends off where I was given the freedom to do what I wanted. One of the first places I wanted to visit on my journey was Nice, France. On my first three-day weekend I and three other classmates hopped on an overnight, 8-hour bus ride, which was painful but worth it, to the French Riviera.
We booked a hostel that was only a 10-minute walk to the beach and I have never been to a more beautiful area. We bought a tourist package and got the opportunity to go on a Segway tour across the stunning ocean, a boat tour with amazing views of the port and a chance to go snorkeling and see beautiful reefs and fish.
I found a bus that rode along the coast to Monaco for only $2 and 45 minutes long. We spent our last day of the trip walking around the second smallest and most expensive country in the world (I paid $6 for a plastic water bottle.) Fun Fact, three Bond movies were filmed in the infamous Monaco Casino and of course, the city is the host to the Monaco Grand Prix.
PARIS: THE CITY OF LOVE
My next free weekend me and two of my classmates, who turned into great friends, visited the city of Paris. We again hopped on an overnight bus and ended in "The City of Love." We bought tickets to the Louvre, which is one of the largest and most important museums in the world, and saw the Mona Lisa and many more extremely impressive works of art. It is so large you could spend an entire week discovering and learning the museum.
We, of course, visited the notorious Eiffel Tower and treated ourselves to speculoos crepes. It was just as impressive as you could imagine. Other places we visited were Notre Dame and Le Jardin du Luxembourg, but my favorite part was just walking the charming streets and visiting the delightful French boutiques. As much as I loved my weekend ventures to exciting new areas I always was comforted by the idea of returning to my home in Toulouse.
TRAINING: TOULOUSE STYLE
As soon as I reached Toulouse I made finding a place to work out as a priority. I found a gym with multiple locations in my area. This made training super accessible and simple.
Something I had to get used to while being in France, especially while working out, is the lack of air conditioning and the regular 90-degree weather. This was tough. The French are very conservative when it comes to energy and water consumption. I began to get used to this difference and noted that I will never take for granted the air conditioning while working out at home. As someone that really enjoys a planned schedule I found time to schedule my gym sessions before class every day from 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
Another plus to living in the city, for my athletic goals, is that I am constantly active. I made an effort to walk everywhere and always took the stairs instead of the escalator. Most days I walked about 8-10 miles, and this was enjoyable because I could really discover the city to the fullest. I would find new parks or cozy cafes throughout my journeys every day forcing me to fall in love with the area more and more.
FRANCE: THE WORLD CUP
As a soccer fan, I could not have come to France at a better time. When I arrived in France the World Cup had just begun, and it gave me and my classmates a great way to bond. Every time France was playing in a game we made the effort to meet up at a restaurant or a park to watch together. As the games passed and the French began to accelerate in the rankings the more the city came alive. It was amazing seeing the whole city come together to support their team.
I, of course, became a huge French soccer fan and was ecstatic along with the rest of the country when the French made it to the final. I loved being able to immerse myself in the soccer culture since it holds such a cultural importance in the country. Extremely excited and nervous I watched the final with my study abroad group at the local park where it was projected on a large screen. Being in France as the French team won the World Cup, first time since 1998, was a once in a lifetime experience and something I will never forget. This was an amazing way to end my trip, as the entire country came together to celebrate their nationalism.
MY LEARNING EXPERIENCE
As I studied International Marketing I got a chance to visit some local businesses and really get an idea of the culture here in France. For example, we went to Airbus which is in Toulouse and one of the biggest manufacturers of civil transport air crafters competing with Boeing. This was exciting to see how they sell and produce their products worldwide.
We also visited a local hospital where they explained the business side of the healthcare system. Everyone in France has access to free basic healthcare and doesn't have to worry about medical bills, which is very different than the U.S. They also offer a free college education to all students. Even further education, such as medical or grad school, is also covered by the state because they are a socialist country.
Other cultural differences I noticed was the polychronic way of life. The French typically work 35-hour work weeks, get 6 weeks paid vacation and retire at age 60. They rely heavily on the leisure time and care less about materialistic things. Learning more about the culture and lifestyle opened my eyes to the differences in the world.
MADRID/BARCELONA SPAIN: OUTSIDE TRAVEL
As my study abroad portion of the trip came to an end, it was time to leave France. Luckily, I had made plans to meet up with a friend in Spain, so I wasn't headed back to the States quite yet. I spent a little over a week discovering quaint tapas restaurants, viewing stunning cathedrals, relaxing in breathtaking parks or by the ocean and of course shopping for hours on end. Here I was able to note the differences between all the places I have been to and really cherish them.
I have learned to love trying new things and challenging myself. I have learned to stay positive and calm in all situations, because we all know or can assume traveling in a foreign country alone can be extremely stressful at times. And of course, I learned how extremely grateful and appreciative I feel to have been able to embark on this extraordinary journey, which has only fueled my love for travel, culture and acceptance more.
And as much fun as I had abroad, this trip also made me realize how happy and lucky I am to be at UNH and be on the gymnastics team and how eager I am to get back on campus with all my friends and finally be somewhere I can call "home" again.
Keep checking back to UNHWildcats.com for more of the "Wildcat Summer" series.
Previous Wildcat Summer Stories:
Sarah Nadeau, Women's Skiing
Jack Doherty, Men's Soccer
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