Under a Rice Blue sky 5,000 miles from the Houston campus, class was in session during the summer months.
“Today we’re actually at a vineyard, and we’re getting a chance to see how the grapes are grown from the beginning process and just see all the different steps in the process of creating the grapes,” said Rice University senior E’kiijah Turner.
Turner was one of dozens of students who signed up for courses at the Rice Global Paris Center this summer. Turner chose “Climate Change, Economics and the Wine Industry,” which included field trips to two vineyards outside of Paris.
“It’s crazy how we walk in the stores past these wines and we don’t really think about how much goes into it,” Turner said after the tour of Caves Cathelineau. “This is their entire life. This is their family. It’s something very cultural, it’s very deep within their blood, deep within their family. I think it’s really beautiful.”
Back at the center in the historic Marais district, meeting rooms hosted discussions for the “Urban Sustainability” class before and after students explored the city.
“I think that the Paris Center itself is a really good complement to all of the excursions that we’re able to take part in throughout the course,” said senior Caroline Mazur-Sarocka. “It’s a really great way to be able to come together in a classroom after we’re pretty decentralized exploring a lot of the different landmarks and sites.”
“It's like Paris is the classroom,” said senior Roxanna Mendez. “It’s really nice to just go everywhere, explore the city and learn things like you never would have otherwise.”
When Mendez and fellow students finished their classes, they returned to their residences, which are just across the River Seine in the 13th Arrondissement. The once private, one-family homes in the Butte-aux-Cailles neighborhood have been renovated into nearly 40 single-occupancy studios.
“I love the residences,” Mendez said. “Everyone has their own private apartment where they can have their own kitchen. You can make up your own meals. That’s really nice and enjoyable.”
In the City of Light, Rice’s Paris Center is helping Owls spread their wings and soar to new heights.
“It’s so doable,” said senior Sejal Gupta, encouraging fellow Rice students to apply for Global classes in Paris. “I would say definitely do it. It’s such a great opportunity. It’s three weeks of your summer and you get to spend it in France.”
To learn more about the Rice Global Paris Center, click here.