Friedberg Recipients

Friedberg Fellowship Reports

The Marguerite W. Friedberg Memorial Travel Fellowship provides funding for research-related travel to and within continental France. All students, except for graduating seniors, are eligible to apply for this fellowship. The Fellowship seeks to support students who wish to undertake research or creative work that is inspired by a desire… Continue reading »

Hiking boots and diving snorkel: Theresa Morley-McLauglin ’21 needed both for her research on French National Parks

Theresa Morley McLaughlin

“During my visit to Calanques National Park, I explored the park’s marine territory by scuba diving, which turned out to be an unexpectedly powerful experience because it forcefully reminded me of the importance of all living creatures and ecosystems. Although I know that climate change is an incredibly far reaching problem, when I think of its negative effects, my brain goes first to the shrinking glaciers and the poor polar bears. I don’t immediately consider the fish, crustaceans, arthropods, or underwater plants whose habitat is likewise threatened by our changing planet.” (Theresa studied at the Wellesley-in-Aix Study Abroad Program.) Continue reading »

From Buddha Bowls to Faux-gras: Caleigh Paster ’21 on a Quest for Plant-based Cuisine in France

Caleigh Paster ’21 on a Quest for Plant-based Cuisine in France

“One of (my host mother’s) friends runs a Facebook group for vegetarians in Aix, where every week they get together at a restaurant, taking over the storefront, to eat a wonderful plant-based meal. I had not expected this support and community that surrounds the vegetarian culture in France. However, this community is only found if you seek it out. As my host father made clear, the classic French dishes are not vegetarian: foie gras, croque monsieur, escargot, etc.” (Caleigh studied at the Wellesley-in-Aix Study Abroad Program.) Continue reading »

Shaheen Currimjee ’20 connects with Muslim women immigrants in Paris

Shaheen in Paris

“For me, the most important part of the (interviewing) process is trust, and to gain a stranger’s trust is no easy feat, especially since I was asking them to talk about intimate and personal stories, which included struggle, loss, and stress. Drawing from my previous interviewing techniques, I relied heavily on creating a connection through shared experiences––I too was Muslim and living (temporarily) in a new environment.” Continue reading »

Bethel Shekour ’19 explores the warp and weft of the Ethiopian community in Paris

“I was able to probe the following questions regarding the role of food in Ethiopian communities in Paris: where are Ethiopian food vendors located and do they cater to communities outside of their own? What do they communicate through their decor, music and advertisements to those from their own community and to those outside the community? Are there other social determinants that play a part in Ethiopian communities?” Bethel-Shekour-Friedberg-Report-2019 Continue reading »

Julian Smedley ’19 researches immigrant cuisine in Paris: how it is regarded, and how it tastes (c’est délicieux!)

Julian Smedley( on the left) in Le Grand Bol Chinese restaurant

“There is clearly a difference between how the average “Français de souche” conceives of immigrant cuisine and how French chefs do so. The conception of immigrant cuisine as lower class means that immigrant restaurants have to price lower to bring in customers. This is unfortunate, as the soft, delicate cockles I ate at Le Grand Bol far surpassed the tough, greasy and more expensive escargot I ate at a French bistro the next day.” Continue reading »

Ryan Buggy ’19 meets Les Sweet Simones and La Big Bertha: a study of the fascinating world of the neo-burlesque

Ryan Buggy

“The time that I spent in Paris going to burlesque shows and meeting artists helped me understand the power of this genre of performance. Burlesque is a tool of empowerment: performers and audiences alike get to experience a space where different bodies and sexualities are applauded, and where artists can engage with subjects as complex as misogyny, racism, and homophobia in comical yet critical ways. At a neo-burlesque show, you will meet mothers, survivors, queer people, and other diverse performers who take to the stage and undress not only their clothing but also the bigotry and challenges they face in their everyday lives. It is an international art; burlesque was born in the Parisian cabaret, but resurrected in New York only to travel back across the ocean to French stages.” Continue reading »

Alexia Barandiaran ’19 explores French ballet history in and out of her ballet shoes

Alexia Barandiaran

I adored Mme. Legrée’s class. She was not as keen on smaller details and spoke a lot about her stylistic preferences. She also made sure that dance was good for our body. During my first class with her, she stopped the class to correct someone’s arabesque because their back was too squared. She asked why they would do that and half the class responded that they thought that was the goal. She was shocked and yelled “mais non! La danse est naturelle. Rien ne devrait être abnormal pour ton corps sauf le premier position.” Mme. Legrée also corrected me on stylistic things, particularly on how I do my pirouettes. With her class and Mr. David’s, I deduced that the purpose of the French style was to be as flowing as possible, particularly with their use of the arm. In plie, one changes the arm more than in other techniques. For pirouettes, Mme. Legrée would ask me to “wind up” in order to continue the movement. I made the same deduction in Mme. Kamionka’s course. Alexia studied at the Sweet Briar College Junior Year in Paris. Continue reading »

Andrew Wallace ’19: Provence sojourn informs art history studies

Andrew Wallace in Provence

I learned so much about the painters from the period surrounding the Avignon School by studying the works at the Petit Palais, and about the greater historical period by visiting the Papal Palace in Avignon. But part of the joy and benefit of getting the opportunity to be there in person was the ability to learn about things I had not known to attempt to research beforehand, and to experience a part of French culture I otherwise would have missed. Continue reading »

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