Hello! Bonjour! My name is Jonathan, and I'm 20 years old. I'm originally from Richmond, California, a city about 20-30 minutes away from San Francisco. However, I go to school at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in Los Angeles. It's about six hours away by car or an hour by plane. I study Global Studies and Public Affairs, very fancy words that mean I'm learning about people from all over the world and what they do differently from back home.
Before coming to France, I only traveled out of the country a couple of times. I went to Guatemala, where my family is from, many times and love visiting every time. In high school, I also traveled to Ecuador as a Youth Ambassador with the Department of State. Now that I'm in France, it's a very different experience here. It's a new continent for me and a new language! People in France speak French, so it's exciting to test my new language skills and experience a new way of living. I'm fortunate to receive a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, which helped me focus more on my studies and my journey in France. I'm currently in Paris, France's largest city and capital, known for many things, including the Eiffel Tower. I cannot wait to share more facts and tell you about my adventures here in France. Stay tuned!
Want to know more about how you can study or intern abroad when you are a college student? The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE). Learn more about the scholarship by clicking here!
