In addition to the research, I enjoyed learning French and assimilating the culture of another country.

The speaker contrasts the instrumental goal of “research” with the unexpected personal rewards that accompany work abroad. By highlighting learning French and “assimilating” another culture, the quote frames scholarship as a form of immersion: intellectual inquiry is enriched by linguistic competence and everyday participation in a different social world. It also suggests that cross-cultural experience is not merely ancillary to academic work but a parallel education—one that can broaden perspective, deepen empathy, and shape how research questions are asked and interpreted. The tone is reflective and appreciative, emphasizing growth through cultural adaptation.