Katherine Lybarger
Katherine Lybarger received her Masters in International Relations at the Catholic University of Lille, followed by an internship at the United Nations Office at Geneva’s Cultural Activities Program
What were your first experiences with France?
During undergrad in the US, I did a summer study abroad program in Paris and fell in love with France. After graduation, I got a job as a jeune fille au pair for an amazing Belgian-American family in Tourcoing, a small city in the north of France. I was lucky because my bilingual host family made for an easy cultural transition into life in France. I loved having the opportunity to explore this new place and especially the history there.
What did you study in France?
I eventually started teaching English in local schools while pursuing my Master in International Relations at l’Université Catholique de Lille. As part of my Master program, I completed an internship at the United Nations Office at Geneva’s Cultural Activities Program. My French language skills were an outstanding asset in that multicultural environment! I worked for several years in the international relations offices at what is now Junia ISA, the agricultural engineering school at l’Université Catholique de Lille. I decided to move back to the US to be closer to my family, but my nearly 10 years living in France still influences my worldview.
What did you take away from your time abroad?
Something important I learned was that, despite some cultural gaps, we are all more alike than we are different. When I came back, I knew I wanted to keep in touch with my French side and have organized French language meetups and joined my local Alliance Française. This French connection has led to getting to know some amazing people here in the US that I otherwise would never have met. I’d like to help more American students learn foreign languages and spend time abroad because such an experience opens your mind to an entirely new perspective and helps you become empathetic to everyone around you.
