The Georgia Tech European Union Study Abroad Program led by Dr. Vicki Birchfield, Co-Director of the Center for European and Transatlantic Studies and Professor at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, consists of 10 weeks learning about the EU from Europe. The program begins in Metz, France at Georgia Tech-Lorraine!

While at Georgia Tech-Lorraine, students in the EU program were able to attend a Football Club de Metz (also called FC Metz) soccer game. FC Metz is one of the oldest professional football teams in France and plays in the Stade (stadium) Saint-Symphorien in Metz.

All 21 students of the EU Program attended the match to cheer on Metz as they played their last game of the season. Using lipstick to paint their faces, the students joined in the excitement of a win by Metz! One student, James Bryan, described the experience of being amongst the fans at the game.

“When [FC Metz] scored, we would get covered with smoke from flares they were setting off and flares from the other side of the stadium, too. Everyone was cheering!” James said. 

This experience is a prime example of how studying abroad at Georgia Tech-Lorraine takes learning outside of the classroom. Students are immersed in the culture around them through food, sports, language, and more. It is a unique experience to continue momentum toward a Georgia Tech degree while traveling around Europe and living out once in a lifetime experiences.

For more details about Georgia Tech-Lorraine, visit lorraine.gatech.edu. For details about the EU Program, visit https://pwp.gatech.edu/gt-eu-summer/.