Susan Clayton: Professor of Psychology

“A better understanding of foreign cultures and also of my own.”

Where I Went:

Paris

Why I Went:

I was awarded a fellowship to live in Paris for 10 months during a sabbatical.

What I Learned:

I learned so much that it’s hard to distill a single message! Not only was I in a foreign country, I was part of an international fellowship that brought together scholars from around the world. I learned how wonderful it is to be able to rely on public transportation. I learned how the smallest things can really reflect a culture — like people taking for granted that cheap, fresh, delicious baguettes and croissants should be available to everyone in any part of the city. I talked to Ukrainians immediately before and after the Russian invasion. I talked to people who were much farther from their homes than I was. I learned something about how the rest of the world saw America and Americans. I learned to accept that I would never be mistaken for a native, and to be ok with that.