Marissa is a third-year Bachelor of International Business (BIB) student in the French language stream. She is studying at Montpellier Business School in Montpellier, France. (All students in the BIB program are required to study abroad for their third year at one of our partner institutions.)
Introduce yourself! Tell us a little bit about your goals and interests:
Hi everyone! I’m Marissa, a third year International Business student from Mississauga, Ontario. In my free time I enjoy being outside and active, exploring my surroundings as much as possible. You will always find me with my camera in hand, ready for any opportunity to take a picture! I am passionate about sunsets, hand written letters, bad dad jokes and succulents. While abroad, some of my goals include running a race in at least three different countries, feeling confident when speaking French with the locals, travelling to eight new countries and writing in a journal every day.
Why did you choose your language?
I chose to study French at Carleton because I thought that it would be really useful to solidify my existing French skills, rather than learn a completely new language. I plan to work in Canada after graduating and believe that having a solid understanding of both official languages would be an asset in the business world!
Have you ever travelled overseas before? If so, where?
I am very lucky to have already travelled to several countries and experienced many unique cultures! Highlights include a high school Habitat for Humanity trip to build a home in Nepal, hiking among the Montserrat rock formation in Spain and navigating through thousands of breath-taking icebergs in Greenland.
What 3 things MUST you take with you while abroad?
The three most important items I must pack include:1) My camera (Essential for both fabulously cheesy tourist photos and capturing all the great moments!)2) A good pair of running shoes (A pair of sturdy and comfortable shoes is essential to avoiding sore feet when exploring.)3) My copy of “Let’s Go Europe 2018: The Student Travel Guide” (A great resource for learning about the best places to go in a city!)
What are you most looking forward to?
Above all, I am most excited for the people I am going to meet, exploring all corners of Europe and becoming more confident in my spoken French abilities… oh and I can’t forget about the food!