Taking my engineering studies outside the borders of the United States was not an easy choice when I was searching for a graduate program, but it is one that I have never regretted. At first I was unsure about how the details would work: where would I live, would I need a car, how would I open a bank account, and especially, did I need to know the local language.

While most of these questions were answered within a month after arrival, some larger ones have only become clear in retrospect. My engineering coursework in France allowed me to study in the same global context that today's big engineering questions are being asked. Although I started with no knowledge of French, my time in the double degree program with GTL and ENSAM allowed me to be ready to begin my first engineering job internationally.