WSU Business of Healthcare Faculty-Led Study Abroad

27/05/2025

And they’re off! All boarded safely for MSP arrival in 8+ hours.

27/05/2025

On our way to the airport. Everyone’s luggage is sufficiently stuffed with Parisian treasures.

26/05/2025

Monday bonus - plants and cats

26/05/2025

Monday bonus — we’re accidental influencers.

Amy and I always buy a new Longchamp purse (or two) in Paris. This year they offered free personalization. A lot of the students bought one and we thought it would be fun to show you. Some wrapped thrifted or new scarves on the handles like locals.

Per Wikipedia —

Longchamp is a French leather goods company, founded in Paris in 1948 by Jean Cassegrain.The company pioneered luxury leather-covered pipes before expanding into small leather goods. Longchamp debuted women's handbags in 1971, becoming one of France's leading leather goods makers. Today, the company designs and manufactures leather and canvas handbags, luggage, shoes, travel items, fashion accessories, and women's ready-to-wear. The house is privately owned and managed by the Cassegrain founding family and does business in 80 countries through around 1,500 retail outlets.

-JC

26/05/2025

Monday bonus - Claude Monet’s house and gardens

26/05/2025

Monday - part 2

We ended our day back in the city with a Forest Bathing activity in Bercy Park, led by Dr. Reitmaier. The students took time to pause, engage their senses, and reflect on our time in Paris and this meaningful course.

Some reflections:
• Nicole: “Embracing the return of curiosity and the rebirth of wonder. Giving myself permission to explore beyond what’s expected of me.”
• Beth: “Becoming a stronger advocate for healthcare as a right, not a privilege—recognizing that social determinants of health are global challenges, not just American ones.”

As this incredible journey comes to a close, we are deeply grateful to Dr. Craft, Dr. Reitmaier, Kathy Jicinsky, and API for making this experience possible. Each of us is leaving with new perspectives, inspiration, and memories we’ll carry forward in our lives and careers.

Merci de nous suivre,

Beth Komay & Nicole Sharp

26/05/2025

Monday - part 1

Dernier jour, bon lundi tout le monde-

Today we took a scenic bus ride to Giverny, France, to visit the home of Claude Monet nestled in the countryside. We walked through the landscapes that once inspired his masterpieces—passing through his charming pink house, strolling the Clos Normand garden, and crossing into the Japanese-inspired water garden. These stunning grounds were lovingly created by Monet and his family.

Though Monet battled darkness and personal struggles, Giverny became his refuge—a place where he found peace, joy, and the freedom to live as a gentleman farmer surrounded by family. His impressionist works, born from this sanctuary, now grace museums around the world. This impressionist style captures light, movement, and atmosphere versus precise details. The emotional expression over realism aligns with the goals of art therapy—-the process of creating and feeling, not necessarily the final product.

For lunch, we enjoyed toasted sandwiches and dessert at Aux Gourmandises de Giverny, a cozy local spot. Afterward, we wandered through the quiet countryside, visited a nearby church, and appreciated the calm contrast to the bustling streets of Paris. We also discussed how the exhibit was ran as a business—many varying ideas, however it would be the mission of the business that would determine operations.

Continue to part 2 …

25/05/2025

25/05/2025

Sunday bonus photos

25/05/2025

Sunday

Bonjour!

Today we had a full free day and we got to explore more of the beautiful city! There were many different pairs/groups experiencing many different things throughout the day!

To start off the day, some of us went to mass at Notre Dame and got to experience the beauty of the cathedral. After visiting Notre Dame, Loryn, Sophia, Abby, Nicole, and Isabelle went to La crème de Paris a cafe near the cathedral for some amazing breakfast! After some shopping, they went to the Musée national Picasso-Paris to see many amazing Picasso pieces, similar artists artwork, and learned a lot about history and Picasso’s life. Fun fact, between 1935 and the 1950s, Picasso wrote around 340 poems. After dinner, we ended the night by going to the top of the Arc de Triomphe to see the city at night.

Elsa, Kate, Beth, and Daniel went to Notre Dame this morning for mass. They then went to Sacré Coeur and walked around the art district there and went to see La Maison Rose and Moulin Rouge as well. They also went to a Kilo Shop. They had a picnic by the Seine before walking around the Latin district.

In separate groups, Shae, Selma, Jenna, Leah, EmmaJo, Bri, and Phoebe went to explore the Palais de Versailles. The palace began as a hunting lodge for King Louis XIII in 1623. King Louis XIV renovated it beginning in 1661 and completed it in 1715, turning it into the beautiful palace we know today. It became a museum in 1837 and the rooms of the palace houses collections of paintings and sculptures representing important figures and events that had marked the history of France. While it did rain, they got to learn about the history of the palace and enjoy the gardens! After visiting the Palace, some of them went out to lunch and went to do some final shopping before the trip ends!

Dr. Reitmaier and Dr. Craft spent the day going to mass at Basilique du Sacré-Cœur and hanging out in Montmartre. They even bought some art!

Fun fact: today is Mother’s Day in Paris, so Bonne fête des mères to all the moms out there.

À bientôt!
-Jenna and Isabelle

24/05/2025

Saturday bonus pic 2

24/05/2025

Saturday bonus pics — free day