My experience abroad was such an amazing experience for me. I have very minimal experience with traveling outside of the US, so being able to not only go to school for a month in France but also go and live with a French family for the second month was such a raw, eye-opening experience.

I don't think that my work experience on the French sheep farm gave me many connections to produce companies in America, but I don't think that is what it was about. I think it's important that I saw first-hand how small farm production food processes work. I think I will be able to draw from that experience for the rest of my life, because of how unique it was on this farm. Also, I think that on my resume, working on a cheese producing sheep farm in France is a pretty cool header.

The effect this experience had on me on a personal level was immense. I had a great test with patience, problem solving, adjusting, and adapting. While I was in France taking courses at Purpan, I had a French class that helped me prepare to live on the farm and be able to speak with the family. Now I can say that actually living with the family who barely spoke any English, helped me quickly pick up on different French words and phrases and I was able to understand a bit of what they were talking about at the dinner table. Not coming from a very tight knit family, I found most shocking how close this family was. Eating three meals a day together was such a great time for me, and seeing a family dynamic where all members helped out was interesting. Whether it came from making lunch, setting the table, mowing the lawn, doing the dishes, we all had our part and helped out in some way. This was so special to me, and I will definitely incorporate this into my family when I have one of my own.

The hardest part of this experience for me is that it is so unique, and nobody at home can relate to me. I share this with the 17 other students who did the same as me. Telling stories and trying to explain my daily life is great, but it's hard for anyone to actually understand what I'm talking about except those other students, who I really bonded with before, during, and after the farm. We all had such a different experience on these crazy farms and had great laughs about it that I will never forget.

• Name: Lacey Hadley
• Status: Senior
• Major: Food Industry Management
• Hometown: Schoolcraft, Michigan
• Program: École d’ingénieurs de Purpan in Toulouse