Descriptions of past internships in France

Emily Slatter (Middlebury College)
Year 2007-2008
During my second semester in Bordeaux, I began working as an intern at a Red Cross-Nestlé center for young mothers in need called L’Espace Bébé-Maman. I was working with a team of 10 other women, all volunteers from a variety of backgrounds. The environment was very informal, and I often spent time with my co-workers outside of the center. I had the chance to work in the Boutique section of the center, helping the beneficiaries choose clothing, food and other products. With both my co-workers and the women coming to the center, I had the chance to discuss French society, poverty and social programs. My French improved dramatically through these interactions. This internship was one of the most rewarding parts of my time in France.

Jennifer Kurland (Middlebury College)
Spring 2008
During my 2^nd semester in Paris I had an internship at Ni Putes Ni Soumises, an active organization against violence towards women. I attended sessions with jurist and victims of violence and answered and returned phone calls from victims seeking help from the organization. This was an incredible experience for me to learn about an aspect of French society that I wouldn’t have otherwise seen, as the organization aids primarily minority women living in the suburbs. In addition, I had the opportunity to get to know many of the people who work there and learn about an organization that well known and active in political affairs and French society. It coincided extremely well with my psychology studies and has given me a perspective on a subject I had never worked with before. My internship added an incredible and certainly unforgettable aspect to my experience in France.

Allison Bailey (Middlebury College)
Spring 2008
For my second semester studying in Paris, I decided to do a for-credit internship during the spring semester. I interned with a firm that does marketing and brand management consulting, primarily for fashion and beauty companies. I learned a lot about the current market for fashion and beauty companies, as well as upcoming trends and problems for the industry. This internship also gave me insight into how a French company works on a daily basis. I was able to interact with French adults and observe how their work occupies their life (in contrast to work experiences I have had in the United States). Overall, it was a great addition to the rest of my classes and I am very glad I had this opportunity.

Kelsey Nelson (Middlebury College)
Spring 2008
While studying in Paris, I interned for 10 weeks at Galerie Maeght, a prestigious modern and contemporary art gallery, where I primarily worked in the adjoining bookstore and print shop aiding clients and selling merchandise. I had a variety of other tasks as well, including framing art works, taking inventory, preparing mailings, making deliveries and editing correspondence. The internship experience was truly indispensable -- in addition to allowing me to get to know other young French people and to improve my language skills, it gave me the opportunity to discover the French work sector, a completely different side of the culture. I highly recommend doing an intership, for both the fact that it brings variety into life in Paris as a student and for the interactions that it allows you to have with French people in an environment completely different from that of the university or of a homestay.

Andrew Kushner (Pomona College)
Spring 2008
During my study abroad semester in Paris I did a two-month internship with EUROCHIPS, an organization that helps care for the families of incarcerated individuals. The best thing about my internship was the opportunity to meet interesting people that worked for EUROCHIPS and its partner organizations. I am certainly happy that I decided to complete an internship while in Paris – the chance to see another side of French life was very interesting.

Antonio Aransaenz (Middlebury College)
Spring 2008
I worked for the Communications department for the Ministry of Internal Affairs (DICOM). We responded to all questions from journalists concerning events the Ministry was organizing or was responsible for (ex: the municipal elections in March 2008). I distributed the press documents to all journalists in preparation for the election days on March 9^th and March 16^th. I also prepared all of the invitations for guests. I am also a regular translator for the video department when they want subtitles in their films and for the rest of the DICOM who sometimes want an official translated document of certain files or presentations. I also assisted in organizing the press conferences of Michelle Alliot-Marie and was often on location to help prepare the spaces for her speeches. My daily work consisted of speaking to journalists, compiling databases of questions asked for the elections, translating documents from English to French and vice versa and going on site to prepare for speeches.

It was a great experience to see first hand the role of the Ministry and to see how an election was organized from the basics to the more complicated matters. I also visited many government buildings that are usually closed to the public and got to be very informed on political actualities.

David Birr (Middlebury College)
Spring 2008
During this semester, I interned at Kaplan Aspect, a company that facilitates language immersion stays abroad. It primarily focuses on sending young students to English-speaking countries for a complete immersion experience. While at Kaplan, my tasks were primarily administrative. I followed the completion of students files, made sure folders stayed in order, and kept potential customers contacted by sending out mailings. I worked on one of the company's newest projects, a summer job program in London by contacting appropriate schools in Paris to gauge interest.  The type of work I did was not interesting, but the people were great, helpful, and always sociable. It was a medium-sized office and presented a good opportunity to experience life in a French working environment.

Emily Thompson (Middlebury College)
Spring 2008
This semester I worked for the Paris office of Deutsche Bank AG. I found the job through a personal contact, not through EUSA. I worked within the Mergers and Acquisitions group. As an intern, I created excel spreadsheets and models which highlighted business operations of companies. Other companies then used these models to see whether or not they would like to merge or buy the modelled company.

My internship was a bit awkward because I was the only part-time intern. However, this did not prevent my bosses from keeping me after the normal 7pm leave time. One perk that arose from these long hours was the free dinners, a rarity in Paris. The people were extremely friendly and quickly forgave my sometimes-stuttering French in the beginning. The long lunches and dinners definitely helped to advance my French skills. Overall, I learned a lot about investment banking and the international business sector through a French perspective. I would recommend working in an international business environment if possible.


Claire Kiechel (Amherst College)
Fall 2007
I interned with the AERI and the related organization Cine-Histoire. The AERI is an organization that does research on World War II and the Resistance and whose mission is to spread the values of the Resistance through cd-roms and books to new generations. I already knew a lot about the history of time period but was able to supplement my knowledge with my internship. Someone who has no knowledge of the time period would also benefit from the internship, there are a lot of resources available and former resistants are always coming in. My daily tasks were reading and organizing old journals, creating a database for old magazines and newspapers, and also creating a film database. For the film database, I watched around 25 films and wrote summaries in french and english about them.

Cine Histoire's historical focus is broader, and the films focus on human right violations and different wars. I ended up doing my memoire after being inspired by a film on the French-Algerian War. I would strongly advise everyone to do an internship, in whatever field interests you. It helps your French enormously and you also are exposed to a French working environment. My collegues were so nice and eating an hour long lunch with them, gave me new insights into French culture and politics.

Hilary BRUECK (University of Minnesota)
Spring 2007
While studying in Paris, I interned for four months with a communications firm helping to prepare for their biggest yearly event- “the 3^rd annual fair trade forum of France”, a fair where both professionals and the general public could come to learn more about fair trade through conferences, workshops and of course various stands of fair trade products (food, clothing, housewares, beauty products…). My daily tasks on the job ranged from delivering posters and flyers to businesses around Paris, to updating our website, compiling databases, contacting exhibitors when problems arose, or doing research on potential exhibitors or companies. The great thing about doing an internship while abroad is that you get to see firsthand a French work environment, a sector of daily life that you don’t normally come into contact with as a student. The best thing about my internship was definitely the workplace itself and the people I worked with. The office was a very social environment of great French camaraderie. Everyone was extremely warm and friendly, and enjoyed spending time with each other, even after work. I definitely recommend an internship for anyone who studies abroad because you will meet people you would never meet otherwise; it is a way of seeing French daily life that is unique and different from spending time with French families or students.

Heather BESSETTE (Middlebury College)
Spring 2007
During my second semester in Paris, I interned at the Musée en Herbe, located in the Jardin d’Acclimatations in the sixteenth district.  Le Musée en Herbe is a museum of art and culture specifically for children ages 5-12.  Using the theory of learning through play, the museum offers various interactive expositions.  Le Musée en Herbe also offers work shops in which the children experiment with various artistic techniques in relation to an exhibition.  The museum was started in 1974 in an effort to increase the accessibility of the museum for children.  In Paris, Le Musée en Herbe is still the unique example for a museum of culture dedicated to children and one of very few in all of France.  

Though not uniquely concentrated on the arts, during my time at the museum the three expositions were on Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, and Marc Chagall.  As an intern, I welcomed school groups to the museum and gave small 10 to 15 minute presentations on the lives of the artists.  I also was involved in the workshops, where I either explained projects or helped pass out materials.  The museum also had me translate documents, send out newsletters, and lend a hand in the general up-keep of the museum and the expositions (sweeping, ordering materials, ect.).  In short, I was kept very busy!

As an art history major, working in a museum environment was a fascinating experience.  Also, I truly enjoyed spending the whole day immersed in the French language and, most of all, discussing art with children!  Doing an internship certainly was a lot of work, but for me it was a wonderful change in pace from regular classes, especially for my second semester.  I would strongly, strongly recommend doing an internship while abroad.  It was an enriching experience through which I felt like I truly began to understand the French culture.   


Kay TENG (The College of William & Mary)
Spring 2007
I interned at the World Food Programme's liaison office in Paris during my semester abroad. As a "stagiaire anglophone" (anglophone intern), I was primarily responsible for translating documents from French to English - press releases, newspaper articles, emails, notes for the record, charts, etc. Since the working language of the WFP headquarters in Rome is English, most documents had to be translated. However, when there was a lack of translation work to do, I had the opportunity to help out with other activity areas of the office, such as researching businesses who could potentially partner with the WFP. An internship is a real commitment and takes time, and though sometimes difficult and frustrating to juggle, in the end it's more rewarding than not. It allowed me to be in a French work environment where the working language is French, so it was not only an immersion experience but also a chance to learn the language used in the French professional world. I also gained a lot of insight into how an international organisation functions and learned more about international relations in a concrete rather than purely theoretic way.

My tasks were very varied and were split between the two companies that I worked for. I did spend the majority of my time, however, working for Activa-Langues. I translated documents and did a lot of research for the Activa website. The website had a fact sheet for every country that had programs that Activa worked with and I spent my time finding all the facts and compiling the fact sheet to go on the web. And then, of course, there’s the big project at the end. All people interested in doing an internship should know that despite what you think, it turns out to be just as much as (if not more) work than taking a class for credit. So if you’re interested in doing an internship because you think it’s the “easy option,” don’t be fooled!

I was lucky enough to have fairly interesting work (especially the translation), but the true valor of an internship in France doesn’t lie in the tasks that you are asked to do, but rather it is found in the cultural factors and linguistic exposure that you experience while interning. My French improved so much from doing an internship, and because of that, I’m so glad I did one. And being in a French workplace with French co-workers is an invaluable experience that I treasure deeply. Over two and a half hour lunches, I would gossip with, listen to, learn from and debate with my bosses and colleagues and for me, that was where the true value of doing an internship in France lies. Sure, it’s a great experience and looks fabulous on your resume, but really it’s one of those life experiences that doesn’t come along too often and can really affect you and deepen your appreciation of your time abroad.


Rita TARNATE (Middlebury College)
L'UCPA (l'Union Nationale des Centres Sportifs de Plein Air)
Spring 2006
This past semester, I did an internship with l'UCPA (l'Union Nationale des Centres Sportifs de Plein Air).  Catering mostly to students but to adults as well, l'UCPA is an association that coordinates and provides week-long sports-based vacations to anyone interested in outdoor sports such as skiing, sailing, mountain biking, scuba diving, etc.  The association has facilities in various parts of the world.  At UCPA, I worked in archiving, putting together reports on the history of the scuba diving program in Cuba.  The internship was very interesting.  Through working at UCPA and writing my final report, I learned a lot about sports politics and the role of sports in France's efforts towards globalization. 

The other great thing about choosing to do an internship during my semester abroad was how it helped my language skills - both written and spoken.  Interning at UCPA not only provided me with extra exposure to native French speakers but also gave me a perspective on the work environment in Paris and not just the student life.  Doing an internship requires a lot of time and work but it is a great experience for anyone who chooses to do it.


Julia BREDRUP (Middlebury College)
Le Bureau de Press des Joailliers Createurs
Fall 2005
I spent the semester interning for "Le Bureau de Presse des Joailliers Createurs," a public relations firm that helps local artisan jewelers stay competitive in an increasingly global market.  "Le Bureau" was a small company (with only 5 or 6 employees), so I got to do a little bit of everything.  Mainly, I helped translate press releases from French to English, helped with preparing our clients' portfolios, and assisted Erwann (the director) with deliveries and photoshoots.  This was actually my first experience in PR (I'm a history major who hopes to go to law school), and I really enjoyed it.  The whole company had an extremely Parisian feel to it, as their clients were all local jewelers.  My French improved tremendously, and this (my internship) was really the only time I interacted at length with "authentic" French people.  For my "rapport du stage," I explored the African diamond trade -- a pretty fasicnating subject.  The rapport was somewhat challenging, but not at all overwhelming.  I was only in Paris for the fall semester, and would reccommend ignoring Middlebury's warning that only yearlong students are prepared enough for the internship experience.


Kunda CHINKU (Middlebury College)
Association pour le développement de l'éducation en Afrique (ADEA)
Fall 2005
I did an internship at the Association for the development of education in Africa, which is a non-governmental organization based in Paris that tries to bring together all the different stakeholders that work in the educational sector in Africa. In essence, ADEA acts as a nexus between donor agencies and African Ministries of Education. Their main activities revolve around capacity-building, in order to enable the Ministries of Education to develop, manage, and implement education policies and advocacy to promote dialogue and partnerships both between the funding agencies and ministries and between African ministries themselves. My main job responsibilities were proofreading documents in English and French and working on the ADEA website by testing it for functionality and also by doing the translations for the English version of the website. I greatly enjoyed this internship not only because of the invaluable work experience, but also because the people I worked with were so warm and accommodating. They would take time out to talk to me frankly about the challenges that they faced while working in this sector and it gave me a good idea of what it would be like to work in this domain. I'd definitely recommend taking an internship for credit because one can only learn and grow from the experience. The internship report (rapport analytique) may seem intimidating at first, but writing it will be a good learning experience. I was only in Paris for a semester and I did not feel overwhelmed by the amount of work I had. So students who are only there for a semester should not hesitate to apply; if you are well-prepared, you'll be fine.


Sara Margolis
Secours Populaire Français
Fall 2005
My internship at Secours Populaire Français was one of the most interesting, challenging, but also rewarding experiences that I had in France. Secours Populaire Français is a non-for-profit organization that provides all sorts of services to disadvantaged Parisians. For example, Secours Populaire might provide a family of 6 with extra food, or it might provide an immigrant trying to establish citizenship with a permanent address so that they can correspond with the government. My role at Secours Populaire was at ‘pre-welcome.’ I, along with a team of volunteers, stood in the lobby and greeted the beneficiaries when they entered the building. We were responsible for finding out what type of service each person needed, and then directing them to the right place. Throughout the semester, I met people who had fascinating stories, and who were all eager to talk to ‘the American girl.’ Also, both the volunteers and the permanent employees welcomed me completely to their team. I loved this experience and I would definitely recommend doing an internship because it’s a great way to get to know Paris and Parisians in a different way than you can experience by going to class.

David TSWAMUNO (Middlebury College)Organisation de Coopération et de Développement Economiques (OECD)
Fall 2004 
My traineeship at the OECD was a life changing experience. Before I undertook the traineeship, I thought I was set to go into finance after graduating. However, this experience opened my eyes to other possibilities. I learnt a lot on Development, Financing of Development and also distribution of aid. I was working with a dynamic group of people who were always willing to help. OECD employees were also keen on the social aspect of my life, which made me be at ease at the offices. I took away a lot of ideas for a senior thesis topic. I am very grateful to Madame Duport of OECD for making this opportunity a reality. Thank you very much. May you all keep up the good work.

Mustafa AKAY (Brandeis University)
Chambre de Commerce Internationale de Paris
Fall 2003
During my study abroad with Middlebury College en France, I had an amazing opportunity of working in the "Chambre de Commerce Internationale", an international organization with a past full by accomplishments in the post-war era. This internship was arranged by EUSA, an organization which helps Middlebury College find internship opportunities in leading companies or in extremely active non-profit organizations for its students. My position at CCI consisted of researching information about how different countries face the spam problem (undesired commercial electronic mail) and building a web-source which would be at disposal of people around the world.  Working at CCI was not just about sharing a work environment with the French, but also was about tasting an aspect of living in the European Union territory by sharing a work space with people from different nationalities of Europe.  On the other hand, I also benefited from working in an international organization by participating in important meetings at OECD ("The Organization of Economic Corporation and Development") about the effects of information economy in society and many other similar subjects.

Phillip BLOOM
Musée Rodin
Spring 2004
My internship at the "Musée Rodin" was the highlight of my academic year in France.  The people with whom I worked were amazingly welcoming, and I made several friends whom I imagine I will keep for life.  My work was rather interesting, as it involved not only photocopying but also research and translation.  I felt like an important member of the photography collections department at the museum, and I know that I accomplished several tasks that were, in fact, valuable.  Truly, I would not have changed anything about my internship, though I might have liked to have tried a little photo restoration during my time there.  My experience with the required "rapport analytique" (essentially, an independent research project guided by a very helpful and pleasant professor) was, again, surprisingly positive.  I was able to pursue research that I would otherwise not have pursued at Middlebury and that, for me, was very enjoyable.  I would recommend doing an internship in Paris not only for the academic value but also (in my case, at least) for the social value.  The people I met were wonderful, and I spoke a lot of French with a variety of real, live French people.  And it was much easier to meet French students among the museum's interns than at the university.  In fact, I regret not having pursued an academic internship during both semesters, as I found my internship to be more agreeable than my rather impersonal, though informative, classes in the French university system. 

Delia CONACHE
Paul Collier Architectes Associés
Fall 2003
During my semester abroad, I interned with a small architecture firm in the 11eme arrondissement, a professional, but quite fun environment. My office work consisted mostly of CAD drafting, and was focused solely on architecture. I consider myself lucky as I was told from the beginning that I won't have to do any other office tasks (filing, coffee etc.) but design. Towards the end of my time at the agency my boss even started inviting me to the creative design meetings, particularly exciting moment as this rarely ever happens in the US at this training level. My colleagues were extremely friendly to me at all times, and we would often all go out for lunch or drinks after hours, which helped my French much more than I had expected and were an important confidence boost. Actually, my internship taught me so much and I had such a good time that I'm going back this summer to intern with them again.  I strongly encourage everyone to at least consider doing an internship during their time abroad. It's one of the best way to meet French people (which is not that easy as it seems...), speak French, and hopefully do something you enjoy.  The only downside I can think of is the time commitment, 16-20 hours a week.

Carmen GRANDA
Association pour les Etudes sur la Résistance Intérieure (AERI)
Spring 2004
I had the wonderful opportunity to work as an intern at the "Association pour les Etudes sur la Résistance" during the spring 2004.  The mission of the AERI is to preserve the memory of the French Resistance during World War II by the realization of different products and activities, such as CD-ROMs, books, music, films, expositions...An intern's role at the AERI is to act as the English intermediary between the French association and the English people who contact the AERI daily and are interested in their work.  Through translation work, phone calls to different mayors in France, Internet research, my vocabulary, my comprehension, and my knowledge of WWII and the Resistance improved drastically.  When the intern is not acting as an intermediary, he/she facilitates the work of the other employees by doing easy, yet meticulous tasks such as constructing a Revue de Presse or researching online.  At the AERI, the employees depend on your work, thus, the intern feels part of the team.  Furthermore, the AERI employees are very nice ; I had an excellent relationship with all of them and I am looking forward to future emails...The facilities are excellent as well, the intern is given his/her own computer...The subject of the analytical section of my report was : "What were the roles of women in the French Resistance and how did their impact change their status?"  Thanks to the AERI, research was rather easy, because they provided me with several books for my research and any other materials, such as pictures used in their CD-ROMs. I definitely recommend an internship at the AERI, because it allows an American student to experience the French work world and at the same time, learn more about the French Resistance, a fascinating subject and an important aspect of WWII .

Brandon GRANIER (University of Colorado)
Fondation Jean Jaurès
Spring 2004
I participated in an internship with the "Fondation Jean-Jaurès", which is a political think-tank that advises political parties and that is closely linked with the French Socialist Party. I spent my time working with director of the Department of International Cooperation. In addition to translating documents from French to English, I also did some research on-line concerning pertinent political topics. The work was very rewarding, and I was able to better understand the context of a French working environment, and particularly a political one. For the analytical section of my report, I chose to do an autobiographical study on Auguste Blanqui, the  nineteenth-century French "professional revolutionary". It was interesting to trace the development of the socialist thought through this monumental historical figure, and I especially enjoyed asking myself how to place "Blanquisme" as an ideology. Thus, my "mémoire" was able to investigate not only the life of Blanqui, but also the ideas that were produced by him.

Martha BLACKMAN (Davidson College)
Association Jean Monnet
Spring 2003
Working at the Association Jean Monnet was a great experience. It is an education organization with the goal of continuing the memory and legacy of Jean Monnet, the founding father of the European Union. I learned a great deal about the history of the EU and more specifically about Jean Monnet. Funded by various European Institutions, the Association is a small office of about 6 people, which organizes and runs tours of Jean Monnet's former house in d'Houjaray, the home of a talented diplomat and thus the historical location of many important decisions concerning the EU's origin. The Association also holds various seminars and educations programs concerning more current EU events (for example, European Citizenship and Franco-German relations). My boss and coworkers could not have been nicer. During my internship, I did a lot of translating from French into English, including web sites, newsletters, emails and speeches. This was great for my vocabulary. In addition, the experience of speaking French everyday in the office was indispensable for my progression with the language. Everybody in the office was extremely helpful, friendly, understanding and above all eager to help me continue to learn French. My internship at the Association Jean Monnet was without a doubt one of my most memorable experiences abroad and I recommend working there.

Javier FERNANDEZ RIVEIRO
Assemblée Nationale
Spring 2003
I did an internship in the National Assembly working with a deputy from the UMP, currently the ruling political party. She was the "rapporteure pour avis" of the commission of laws for a law project about bioethics. I did some research for her on bioethics in other countries and I followed the whole passage of the law in the National Assembly. I also got to visit her "circonscription" outside of Paris and attend a great number of events that she had organized, as she was also one of the general secretaries of the UMP. Some of these events occurred in well-known hotels in Paris with speakers ranging from the prime minister of Spain to European commissioners, etc. Working in the National Assembly was an amazing experience that I highly recommend to everyone, especially those who are interested in politics. It requires a lot of involvement, but one gets to meet and to work with some of the most important political figures in the country.

Meredith GIERSCH
Enfance et Partage
Spring 2003
The French association where I interned this spring was Enfance et Partage, a non-profit organization that fights against child abuse and neglect though various means. Most important though, is their Abuse Hotline, which I observed often for a better understanding of the association. My internship was mostly research based and geared toward completing my "rapport de stage." For the analytical section of my paper I compared Enfance et Partage and an almost equivalent American organisation. I learned a great deal about both the French and the American child protection system, as well as how the non-profit sector functions in France. Working at Enfance et Partage helped to improve my communication skills in French, to be more confident in asking questions about the French culture and politics, and to make me feel included in a foreign country. My supervisor was very supportive and considerate and the atmosphere was warm and friendly, making working there a pleasure. I was very happy at my internship and am content with the results; I am especially proud of my research paper that I worked on for those four months.

Julia HERWOOD
Callegari Berville Grey
Spring 2003
This Spring I interned at Callegari Berville Grey, the French subsidiary of Grey Worldwide. I wanted to intern with this international firm so I could learn how business, and more specifically advertising, is conducted on a global scale. Their clients include both French and international brands such as Twix, Pedigree, Mars, 3M, Procter & Gamble, and Danone. While roughly 100 people worked in the office, I worked directly with a small team in the Client Services/Account Management Department. Most of the time I translated advertisements-- both in French/English as well as in English/French-- to increase fluidity between the international offices. I also learned a lot about the process of ad creation, and was able to sit in on many of the steps throughout the process. For example, I was able to attend an initial client meeting where the brand representatives presented the future vision of the brand, but also was able to sit in on the actual voice over at the very end of the process. It was interesting to see how this international company works in France, and to see the notable differences between the French and American workplaces. My co-workers were helpful and supportive throughout my internship, and my spoken French improved throughout the semester. Before coming to France, one of my goals had been to intern with an international firm, and therefore I finished this semester without regrets. Because of my internship with Callegari Berville Grey, this period of my stay in France was unparalleled in terms of personal and academic growth, and I am content with my choice to complete an internship this term.

Daniel G. RUSSELL
Fédération National des Maisons des Potes
Spring 2003
I was placed at the Fédération Nationale des Maisons des Potes, a militant left-wing organization closely related to "SOS Racism." I was assigned to work on the culture page of their monthly newspaper, le Pote-à-Pote (loosely translated to mean "Buddy-to-Buddy"). It has always been a dream of mine to work as a journalist, and I was ecstatic at the opportunities that working at the newspaper afforded me. I had the opportunity to interview French artists and musicians that I revered, as well as to write film and music reviews, all of which were published in the newspaper. I also had the great fortune to help out with "La Marche des Femmes," organized almost single-handedly by our organization, in which a group of women went from city-to city all over France to hold protest marches for women's rights, after a young French girl was brutally burned alive in Vitry, a Parisian suburb. I began to understand what it meant to militate: I addressed envelopes, called newspapers, handed out tracts, and stapled protest signs. I also helped them set up for the final protest march in Paris, in which more than 10,000 people participated, and which made national news, often as the leading story. It was marvelous to see how much a tiny organization, composed mostly of volunteers, could accomplish so much and have such an impact on the French political landscape. I would like to thank IFE and the School in France for such an amazing opportunity.

Christopher SHIELDS
Assemblée Nationale
Spring 2003
I spent a couple of months during second semester interning at l'Assemblée Nationale, working with a very young deputy from the UMP majority party. My time was spent working on a couple of different research projects, primarily organizing a reunion of young centrist members of the 25 national parliaments in the EU. I also did some research regarding environmental experts who would be willing to work with the committee for Health and the environment, headed by my deputy. In the end, nothing came of it; I learned first hand the bureaucracy of the French political system. Although the experience of doing that sort of research and having that kind of contact was interesting, it was somewhat frustrating to work on something and never be able to see the end result. Nonetheless, the experience was amazing. Simply working in that kind of environment and being in a building with such history was worth it, although the interaction that I hoped for with my deputy was well, non-existent (I met her once; she was on the phone).

Sardar SHOKATAYEV
Multithématiques (MTH)
Spring 2003
I was an intern with a TV production company called Multithèmatiques (MTH), which transmits several theme channels over the cable and satellite. Most of the shows, films and documentaries that MTH broadcasts are foreign (predominantly American) and therefore have to be adapted to the French public. Being a part of the department of Adaptations I was primarily involved in verification of translation of TV programs (from Russian and from English). I have also familiarized myself with the process of dubbing, voice-over and making subtitles. My other responsibilities included assistance in production of announcements (bande annonce) and presentation of films. I also did summaries of documentaries, interviews and reports for a talk show. My internship was more of a cultural than a professional experience, but in the course of it I have acquired some technical skills, which I am currently using for my summer job. It was a good opportunity to evaluate my interests and to meet new people.

Julie STEVENS
Cinéastes Zoo SARL
Spring 2003
During the spring semester in Paris, I interned at Cinéastes Zoo sarl, a "maison de presse" located in Montreuil. The publication house is owned by Eric Borg, and has a staff of only four people, including the two interns. The primary product of Cinéastes is a cinema magazine, but the company also launched the first book in the Camera Incognita series last January. Most of my job was focused on the distribution of the new book.
I spent most of my time at Cinéastes on the phone. I called several bookstores to propose the new title, and followed up with them to check on each order's status. I met with the buyer at FNAC St. Lazare and dealt with a few other independent bookstores in person. I did much of the accounting for the book, billed and packaged orders, and called the accounting sections of stores with unpaid bills. Finally, I did some research for the next book in the series.
I also worked on the next issue of the magazine. Most of the Cinéastes journalists are free-lance writers, so I first contacted them to propose that they write for the upcoming issue. Then I called the press agents of unreleased films to obtain the dates of press releases, and to reserve places for Cinéastes journalists. I called press agents to obtain new DVD's for review and to request official photos for the magazine. Lastly, I organized the magazine's photo archives.
My internship gave me a much greater insight into the worlds of both publishing and film distribution. I gained a larger understanding of the politics of marketing and advertising in the magazine world as well, despite the fact that I did not participate directly in selling ads for the magazine. I learned a lot about French culture in the marketplace, and I certainly practiced my French; I spent my entire day at the office on the phone! My experience was much more time-consuming than a class, but I feel as though I gained a lot from it, both professionally and personally.

Milen TODOROV
Confrontations-Europe
Spring 2003
Through IFE's internship program in Paris ( www.ifeparis.org ), I was placed at Confrontations-Europe, a socio-economic think tank, engaged in a vast range of activities ( www.confrontations.org ). The mission of this association, presided by the Member of the European Parliament M. Philippe Herzog, is the creation of a "more participative European democracy" through active discussion between the different socio-economic agents in the society - political parties, enterprises, unions, NGOs, etc. Under the guidance of the Secretary General Mme Claude Fischer and the economist M. Bernard Marx, I had the chance to work individually on a research project on the state of development of the financial sector in 7 countries of Central and Eastern Europe. I prepared an extensive 60-page mémoire, analyzing all relevant segments of this sector: banking, capital markets, insurance, money market, etc. Although this project was not closely tied to the day-to-day work at Confrontations-Europe, I believe that my report helped the organization gain a better understanding of the processes that shape the financial sphere in the countries that are to join the EU very soon. Overall, I was pleased to get to know and work side-by-side with some of the people who strive to make united Europe a more democratic and more informed community.

Naomi E. Andrews
Les Verts
Spring 2002
I took part of the IFE program in Paris and I was placed at the National Green Party office. I had the wonderful opportunity to be working there during a presidential campaign and was able to be in contact with the national candidate and take part in campaign events. I also aided in the creation of a program that will be put onto the green party's website that will allow people access to the topics discussed and decisions made in the past at National meetings.
My final paper topic was the Green Party's Response to Globalisation, and I thoroughly enjoyed the research. I was able to talk with many people I came in contact with at the office, and they helped me with my work and in understanding the Green Party's role as a global network as well as an individual national party. I thank IFE and the school in France for making this opportunity available to me.


Meena Jagannath
La Plate-forme francaise du Commerce Equitable
Spring 2002
My internship was with a non-governmental organization called the French Platform for Fair Trade (La Plate-forme francaise du Commerce Equitable). It was a very interesting and helpful experience as I learned about the dynamics of such an organization [in France] in addition to technical skills while having the opportunity to develop my French communication skills with people outside the student community. My activities with the organization included translating their website, designing certain communication tools such as posters, brochures and slide show presentations, some administrative duties as well as support during sponsored events. The people I worked with were friendly, flexible and understanding, and my experience with them was on the whole rather positive.


Kaleb Tamiru
Groupe Arca Patrimoine
Spring 2002
My internship at the Groupe ARCA Patrimoine, which is an expanding financial consulting company operating throughout France, involved a variety of tasks. Along with several "stagiaires" who came from different backgrounds, I was responsible for recruiting clients so that they can invest money in the many of funds the company had available - pension funds, mutual funds, and health/life insurance. This involved an extensive and in-depth research on many companies operating both in France and in continental Europe as well as the trends in the French "Bourse" and other major European stock markets, which was then followed every week by a meeting with the professional staff and the directors of each division for putting in place a plan of action. I was further delegated the tasks of setting up the "rendez-vous sur place" with potential clients, accompanying the conseiller financiers to the meetings, and miscellaneous paper work to expedite the process. The experience working with this company was incredible. I have come a long way in acquainting myself with the various financial instruments; and the emphasis on research was invaluable.


Sonali Desai
Maisons Ronald McDonald
Spring 2002
I was an intern with the "Maisons Ronald McDonald" in Paris, France for a 12 week period. The Ronald McDonald houses are associated with a hospital and provide a home to families whose children are undergoing treatment for various illnesses. The house I worked with in Villejuif was associated with the "Institute Gustav-Roussy," a hospital that specializes in the treatment of cancer. The house had a warm and inviting environment that was lacking in the hospital, where children could live as normal a life as possible surrounded by friends and family. A family could find accommodation here for the token price of 8 Euro a night, per room, per family. It was an opportunity for a family to re-start their life while their child was undergoing treatment. I am a psychology and French double major and was hence looking for an internship where I could use and enhance my knowledge of both, the language and the science. I therefore worked closely with the children and their families, all the while studying their reactions to the illness. I spent a lot of time at the hospital, giving parents time off from the almost constant attention they must give their child and also, keeping the children's spirits high through games and discussions. I also worked in the house, building the trust of the families and creating relationships with the children. Mainly through listening to the children and their families was I able to provide a vital support, both physical and mental. I worked closely with other volunteers and the director of the house in an effort to learn all I could about the psychological ins and outs of this illness. This internship has provided me with the tools a psychologist needs in order to advance in the mental health field - the knowledge of how and when to listen and also, the strength to work in an emotionally charged atmosphere where sadness and loss are every day occurrences.


Evan Hoobchaak
E.P.I.T.A.
Spring 2002
My internship at E.P.I.T.A., a private university for engineering and computer science students, involved teaching and interview duties in the english department. I worked over 200 hours in my 6 months there teaching political science courses that I designed and taught by myself, as well as doing admission interviews for the university. I was also delegated numerous tasks in the english department such as reserving rooms and schelduling the hours of the other professors. The experience of teaching was incredible, and my knowledge of the current world political situation has grown considerably, as I was actually was theteacher and needed to do quite alot of research to know my subjets well.


Ivaylo Petev
Schuman Foundation
Spring 2002
I would like to start this brief description of my second semester internship in Paris at the Robert Schuman Foundation by pointing out my great pleasure to have taken part in the numerous undertakings of this organisation, whose constribution to the construction of a modern and democratic European Union allowed me to discover a variety of interesting aspects of this complicated and elaborate process. Amongst the many projects that the Foundation has underway, I had the opportunity to participate at several conferences, take part in the preparation of several publications, as well as work closely with the vice-president, Mr Seitlanger, on the organisation of a symposium in Sofia, Bulgaria, on European Union's future enlargement. Besides my active role in the daily and monthly activities of the Foundation, I also had the chance to develop and finish an extensive 40-page research paper, which I hope would be in great use for the Foundation. Furthermore, owing to the amicable staff of the organisation, and in particular the Director Mrs Joinnin, I met with several interesting academic and political personalities - among them, Prof. Reynie from Sciences-Po and M. Mevellec, director of the office of the Council of Europe in Paris - with whom my collaboration still continues.

Kristy Fullerton
Internship: financial department -- Ile-de-France
Spring 2001
The purpose of my internship in the financial department of the Ile-de-France Region was to research the financial crisis of New York in 1975 so as to be able to present my findings in the form of a ten minute exposé and PowerPoint presentation at a conference in Évry, a suburb just outside of Paris, where I was introduced as the international speaker. Thus, the majority of my time in the office was consumed by independent research accomplished via internet and via direct contact with involved parties in New York. In addition, my services as an editor and translator were requested, specifically to revise the department director¹s English résumé, to proofread the English translation in the Financial Report for the year 2000, and to translate a PowerPoint presentation from French to English so that the director would be prepared to present in England and in Rome. Finally, I worked privately with members of the department and attended both intra-office and inter-office conferences to learn the functions and procedures of the financial department in the Conseil Régional. In completing my work and responsibilities, my personal goals as an intern at Ile-de-France were met, in particular my goals to learn technical economic vocabulary in French and to compare some procedures of the French and American financial administrations.

Heidi Robinson
Maria Louisa, Spring 2001
For the last three months I have been a " stagière " at MDP sarl Maria Luisa, a company owning four boutiques and handling the public relations for Manolo Blahnik, Pierre Hardy and Passion Bait. The company, despite its prominence in the fashion world, is comprised of only 15 employees and is owned by Maria Luisa Poumaillou and her husband Daniel. Famous for her impeccable taste and her ability to launch the careers of young, talented designers, Maria Luisa started with one store in 1988 and was among the first to carry Helmut Lang, Ann Demeulmeester and John Galliano. The company is a bit like a family, and as much as there are designated roles and positions, everyone does a bit of everything. I had the opportunity to help with client lists, plan a store-launch party, help buy for the next season, select clothes for celebrity clients, communicate with designers regarding our orders and meet quite extraordinary people, on a day to day basis. No day was the same and I would often move between the office and the four boutiques. I did whatever needed to be done, some days stuffing envelopes, other days picking out clothes for Lisa Marie Presley, meeting Sofia Coppola and having lunch with Nicole Kidman¹s best friend. I made amazing contacts with fashion journalists, buyers from New York, designers, artists and found amazing friends in the company itself. All in
all, I greatly improved my French, gained a unique perspective on the fashion industry and made contacts allowing me to easily work in this industry in the future.

Eve-Anadel Coronado
Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme
Spring 2001
My internship took place at the FIDHóFédération Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l'Homme or the International Federation for Human Rights. It proved to be a very interesting and enriching experience. I was able to use my language skills during the course of the internship (Spanish, French and English) in different ways. I helped translate the Observatory's Annual Report on Human Rights Defenders from French to Spanish and English. I was also able to make phone calls in different parts of the world (mostly in Latin America) to follow up on the situation of the human rights defenders there. Furthermore, I researched on different occasions the violation of a specific human right (e.g. the right to manifest or liberty of expression) in a specific country and wrote open letters or made an urgent appeal, depending on the situation, to the head of the State. I also made urgent appeals to the Foreign Ministers of already well-developed countries to bring to their attention the violations that were taking place. I was at times given the task to organize press conferences in different parts of the world to promote a specific book or report concerning human rights in that country. This included setting up interviews and meetings with the correct authorities for our representative, as well as booking the hotel and space for the conference. Finally, I was able to research my mémoire (Are Islam and human rights compatible? With an in-depth look at the Egyptian woman) and speak with specialists on the region. I highly enjoyed my internship, I don't think that I've actually learned so much in one subject in such a short amount of time. My only regret is that I worked at the FIDH only two full days a week. I think it would have been an even more fulfilling experience if it would've been full time.

Jennifer Luening
Internship at the Frac Ile de France
Spring 2001
For four months this spring I interned with a regional contemporary art organization called the Frac Ile de France (fonds regional pour l'art contemporain) and it was an experience that taught me much about the working world of French culture and one that I will most definitely never forget. The Frac is a public collection of contemporary art existing in every region of France. They make acquisitions two times a year and receive their budget (aproximately 2 million francs) from the region. Their mission is to disperse contemporary art into the region where the public may not have as much access as they would say in Paris. They work to build awareness of the art that is being produced today and to support those artists in France and around the world living and creating at this moment.

In the small office of the Frac I worked with two other colleagues: Bernard Goy the director of Frac Ile de France and his assistant Natalie Boudet. There I answered the phone, spoke to contemporary artists about their exhibitions, catalogued artists' files, put together dossiers for exhibitions set up by the Frac, attended one of the acquisition commissions where works were decided on and purchased, and learned immense amounts about contemporary art through fascinating discussions with Mr. Goy. I also wrote a 55 page thesis on the crisis going on today in contemporary art and the Frac's role in trying to solve it.

I could not have asked for a better internship. My colleagues were extremely bright, helpful and kind, always willing to answer my questions and engage me in conversation. My mastery of French improved considerably through speaking with them and researching for my thesis, and I was finally integrated into French society by actually working in it. I cannot thank IFE enough for giving me this opportunity. It has opened up the world of art to me (a world that I have always been interested in) and has inspired me to continue my studies in art history (especially modern and contemporary art) even beyond Middlebury. My four months at the Frac Ile de France certainly changed me for the better.

Michael Malloy
Robert Schuman Foundation
Spring 2001
Intern at the Robert Schuman Foundation from February through May 2001, I benefited from constant exposure to French culture in a working environment. The Robert Schuman Foundation is charged by the French government with the promotion of European integration projects, raising public awareness of EU activity, and contributing to the Great European Debate. A prestigious board of directors, including former Prime Minister Raymonde Barre and former Senator Jean Seitlinger (with whom I interacted regularly) gives guidance and insight to the organization. On a daily basis, a small team of six to ten talented and highly moti! vated political scientists and experienced EU diplomats oversees conferences, publications, and the myriad activities of the Foundation.

As an American intern, I was asked to assess the new relationships between Europe and the United States in light of George W. Bush's arrival at the White House. Working two full days a week, but also participating in visits and workshops at the French Senate and Assemblee Nationale sponsored by the Foundation, I was able to utilize the resources of the Foundation in writing my memoir. I was also assigned a personal adviser from IFE, with whom I met on a regular basis to discuss the specifics of my memoir, namely, how to narrow my topic and more thoroughly pursue my topic. By the end of the four months, I had writ! ten a fifty-page analysis of European Defense projects and their relevance to U.S. foreign policy in the new Bush administration. This internship was wonderful because it exposed me to a domain, which, up until now, had never gone beyond the academic realm (that is to say, political science and history lived on a daily basis). More importantly, I developed what I hope will be lasting relationships with the French, and dramatically improved my language skills. Therefore, it was this opportunity that deepened and enriched my abroad experience.

Abigail Vacanti
Théâtre et Cinéma Île-de-France
Spring 2001
I had an internship at Thecif, Théâtre et Cinéma Île-de-France. It is a company that funds French independent films in the post-production stage. Everyone with whom I worked was very friendly and helped me understand the system and the French language. I had a wonderful experience even though they did not have much work for me to do. (there were times that I would have like to have more work to do for them, but I think they need help mostly in December and January for their film festival and not in the spring). I translated their web page into English but I also had the opportunity to see how the French independent film industry works. I was able to see and participate in several stages of the selection process and thus view several French independent films. This was a really wonderful experience: both the internship and the memoir. I was very happy to have worked in a French company as well as having the practice of writing a paper of that length in French.

Zachary D. Wyman
the Association Républicaine des Anciens Combattants et Victimes de Guerre
Spring 2001
My internship at the Association Républicaine des Anciens Combattants et Victimes de Guerre (L¹A.R.A.C.), was the most rewarding pre-professional and academic experience I have had to date. Within the cultural framework of a foreign country, it is so important to really ³get inside² of a culture in order to better understand a language, a nation and its people. I would have NEVER been able to achieve such an advanced level of French without having been exposed to the ³daily life² of a phenomenon so central to French culture: the association. Various contacts I made throughout the term of my internship include: Madeleine Riffaud (best-selling author, WWII, Vietnam and Algerian war veteran, subject of a the painting of my adored artist, Picasso, member of the Légion d¹honneur); Georges Doussin (president of the A.R.A.C., also member of the Légion d¹honneur, and founder of le Village de l¹amitié in Vietnam, a structure to help young children, victims, of Agent Orange to integrate society both at the local and national levels); Guy Lamothe (the best history professor I have ever had because he actually witnessed much of the history that he taught me).

As both a student in history and French, my Dillon Dunwalke internship experience has been both the most academically-challenging and personally-gratifying experience I have had to date during my career at Middlebury.

Amanda Birns - Women's Wear Daily (Newside Publications)
Spring 2000
The 9 months I spent interning at Women's Wear Daily in Paris were crucial to my overall experience abroad. I was working with American and French employees, which permitted me to observe differences in the workplace first hand. I also had the opportunity to interact with French companies and gather a better understanding of how they operated as well. My internship provided me with opportunities I may not have otherwise had while in Paris. I attended a fashion show, met many famous French people, and even traveled to Lyon. I had a confidence about being in Paris, as I was part of the working class in France and I felt less like an international student or an outsider. I really felt as if I was living and working abroad as a non-student would.

My comprehension and my comfort level in speaking were augmented by the intensity of my internship. I used the telephone on a daily basis and am now more comfortable speaking French on a telephone - something that had previously intimidated me. In fact, I am now more comfortable speaking French on the phone than anywhere else. My vocabulary also increased, as I was exposed to business, fashion, and journalism terms. Lastly, I learned to switch between the two languages very quickly and even to combine them, as I was working with a bilingual staff I am not certain if I will work in journalism upon graduation, but I now have a better understanding of the profession and know if it is something I enjoy. From my job, I took away stronger interpersonal skills as well as an increased confidence within the workplace. After all, I successfully completed an internship in an unfamiliar field in a foreign language.

In terms of advice I have to offer those organizing internships - encourage more students to seek them out. To students: Don't be scared off by the idea. It is a great experience that you will learn so much from. Also, don't feel obligated to work for a non-profit or government organization. Seek out something that interests you so you can enjoy the experience 100%.

Mariah McKechnie - Les Verts (Greens') Conseil Régional d'Ile de France
Spring 2000
My name is Mariah McKechnie and I studied abroad with the Middlebury College School in Paris. I am a political science major with French and Art History minors. For my internship I worked with theParti Vert(Green Party), the left wing environmental party in France. I was with the Verts in the Regional Assembly for theRégion Ile-de-France, a region comprised by Paris and its surroundings. The internship was political and I was directly involved with party and regional politics.

This internship was the cornerstone of both my cultural and language experiences abroad. Until completing the internship I did not feel that I had progressed remarkably in French and I knew few true "Parisiens." Within a week of working for the Verts my French had improved considerably and by the end of four months my improvement was noted by others on a daily basis. I felt very comfortable with the language for the first time and could honestly say I was proficient in oral and written French. The internship also gave me a remarkable opportunity to work and socialize with French people. I made friends and contacts that I will hold for life. I learned so much about French cultural beliefs and practices first hand and feel that I now have a much better understanding of "why they are who they are..."

In order to receive credit for my internship I was required to write a mémoire, or thesis, of 35-40 pages in French. This prospect frightened me at first, but I knew that it would be worth it in the end, and it certainly was. I spent much of my internship researching and writing the paper and received support and help from the people I worked with. The end result was a 60 page documentation of my research, essentially an explanation of the functioning of the regional government, the party, and a historical/political/economic profile of the region. In short it was an enormous project that turned out to be one of my most rewarding academic experiences to date!

I learned not to be shy, to ask lots and lots of questions, to listen closely, and to work methodically and structurally on large writing projects, such as my thesis. This internship introduced me to the world of environmental politics and I hope to continue to study and explore the possible career options available for me in the field. I also hope to return to France and work some day. To Middlebury students doing overseas internships: By all means, do internships. They are so worthwhile and can make a study abroad experience so much more meaningful. To individuals organizing the internships: Look for qualified students and hold interns accountable for their work. I may not have enjoyed the thesis project at the time, but when I look back I realize how valuable it was in the long run.

Andrea Newsom - Assemblée Nationale
Spring 2000
This internship proved not only to enhance both my language and cultural learning process but also contributed to my overall study-abroad experience. Being a student at l'Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris made me realize how significant an internship at the National Assembly would be. By attending all the séances, réunions, conferences . . . I was able to experience what really went on behind the scenes. I was working as collaboratrice for Jean-Louis Debré, president of the RPR political party. My work ranged anywhere from research on "les instruments économiques de l'écofiscalité aux États-Unis" to "les activités financières de la mondialisation". By working side-by-side with many of the center right-wing deputies, I found myself becoming more familiar with the legislative process. All that I had studied atSciences Po proved worthwhile . . . my position asstagiaire/collaboratrice truly made my stay abroad both fulfilling and exciting.

If there is any one thing I could pass on to students going abroad, it would be to take advantage of all that is offered by completing an intership. The impact that it can have on both the cultural and language learning experience is phenomenal and I highly recommend it to all students whether or not they have had any previous job experience. It proves to be an excellent way to immerse one's self in the culture by being exposed to this hands-on experience.

As for the individuals who organized the internships, I express my deepest gratitude, for without this internship I would not be able to return to France in order to launch my career in the political field.

Ebru Uras - Fondation Jean-Jaurès
Spring 2000
My name is Ebru Uras - I am a political science major, minoring in German and French and I spent my year abroad at the Middlebury program in Paris. During the autumn term, I took courses at Sciences Po andl'Institute Catholique. For spring semester, I had two courses at the l'Institute Catholique, a course sponsored by Middlebury, and an internship at the Fondation Jean-Jaurès sponsored by the Clarence and Anne Dillion Dunwalke Trust through Internships in Francophone Europe.

The Fondation Jean-Jaurès is the foundation/think tank of the French Parti Socialist. It is strongly linked with theFriedrich Ebert Stiftung in Berlin. It has as its President, Pierre Mauroy, former Prime Minister and mayor of Lille. My internship was in the international cooperation section of the foundation, which organized seminars, internships, colloquiums, etc., overseas in the hopes of supporting democratizing countries and the social-democratic parties.

As an intern, my duties included translation work, researching, writing and/or compiling papers on democratization, and providing office support. Furthermore, I had to write a thesis for the internship program, and so I wrote a 50-page thesis in French on "Democratization in Mali". This internship significantly helped my understanding of French culture and work environment. My language skills increased greatly - in addition to French, I also used my German fairly often. Being in a foreign work environment was, at first, difficult as I was unfamiliar with the rhythm of things and what sort of expectations were upon me. However, adapting to this internship was an important accomplishment of my year abroad. I enjoyed working in a think-tank and it is something that I would like to pursue at some point. I strongly recommend interning overseas to all students who are doing a junior year abroad - one should go into it knowing that it is a lot of work and can be difficult, but the opportunity to actually work and study in a foreign country is invaluable.

Yefim Nivorozhkin - Fondation Jean Jaures
Spring 1998
I worked at the Cabinet of the former Prime Minister, Pierre Mauroy (the Fondation Jean Jaures). I worked closely with Senator Mauroy's personal advisor on international affairs. I assisted in planning Mr. Mauroy's trips and official visits. I performed on-line research, and I was also responsible for presenting information on given subjects from the American, Spanish, British and Russian presses. I replied to Mr. Mauroy's mail, and often had a close contact with Russian and European politicians and diplomats. I also prepared a presentation on the privatization process in Russia. In addition, another of my responsibilities was to translate Mr. Mauroy's private conferences.

Nicole Pousson - French Ministry for the Overseas Departments and Territories
Spring 1998
The solid program IFE offered an extremely advantageous framework for my Paris internship. I worked at the French Ministry for the Overseas Departments and Territories in the Press and Information Service, where my principal responsibility was participation in the daily creation of press reviews. This involved constant contact with current newspapers, magazines, and AFP dispatches (the French equivalent of the Associated Press), a very concrete hands-on way of keeping up on current events. This essential immersion in the news often sparked lively political discussions with my French boss and colleagues. I also had the occasion to interact with journalists and to do research at the headquarters of the newspaper Le Monde. I was also able to witness special historical events which touched this ministry: the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the former French colonies, as well as a series of conferences concerning the constitutional future of the French territory New Caledonia. When Hillary Clinton made a state visit to Paris in May, I watched her arrival among a flock of journalists in the courtyard of the Prime Minister's residence. These were the kinds of things I'd come home at night and see covered on the evening news, which made me feel somehow that I was on the pulse of the country's political life. Since the administration is so highly centralized in France, a Parisian government ministry offers a truly privileged environment and a fascinating perspective on high-level power and activities.

David Sterrett - Assemblée Nationale
Spring 1998
I did an internship last spring for a Congressman in the Assemble Nationale in Paris, which is the equivalent of working in the House of Representatives in the United States. The man I worked for represented the environmentalist Green Party. It was pretty flexible position, meaning that I had many different tasks during my three months there. My main project was doing research on a concept called Environmental Justice. This has to do with the correlation between various environmental hazards and poor or minority neighborhoods. This concept originated in the United States, where an inordinate amount of toxic waste sites are found in African-American communities. My job was to find out if there was any correlation between noise pollution in France and poor communities. I chose a region in Paris and which contained a major airport and studied the median household income of the towns right around it. Sure enough, there was a strong correlation. Another project I worked on was an Environmental radio show that one of the advisors for the Green Party put on. My job was to do a 3-5 minute press review on articles that had been in the news during the week. One time when the guest for the show did not show up, I ended up being the guest and talked on the air for over 30 minutes! The last part of my job was translating documents from English into French. This was hard work but a lot of fun. I greatly recommend this internship to anyone interested in environmental politics.