I made it back to Fahrenheit…
I am currently in Chicago waiting for my last flight back to Florida, previously stopping in London for about an hour. I guess in this 10-hour overnight layover I can write my final thoughts about my journey and watch the 4th quarter of the Bears/ Eagles massacre. What can I say about my semester abroad in France? Well, I didn’t know how to work the microwave so I just added 30 the whole semester…But really though, this semester was one like none other. It has certainly surpassed any expectations that I had and created a new standard.
I am truly blessed to have been able to come on this journey. My family has fully supported me and unselfishly given up so much, and for that, I am grateful.
I implore you to travel.
I implore you to travel to a place you’ve never been and digest the culture. But if you go to France, digest the raclette or quiche aux poireaux. Actually seeing these places in real life showed me that these places actually exist and McGraw Hill never lied.
Everyday was a renewed painting with a variety of different strokes and the people were the brushes, and the thick and thin lines varied with the highs and lows of the accents and blazers and the blueness of the ocean; a hint of grey for the cumulonimbus and the age of the cheese. And every day was a masterpiece.
Testing the maximum threshold of the Ikea, everyone was invited. Smiling like everything is Dandy… I’ve had new and old goose, pluck the feathers and make it big, but drop the cap. The grey and foie gras, and I thought it was a good idea. Stumbling through Antibes like I’m Stromae, but only the demeanor and shorts were the same. Goodbye, kiss, kiss, keep in contact, they turn the corner and just like that, they are gone. You don’t know when you’ll see them again, but you hope to stay in contact with everyone.
“It’s a good thing that you are doing this while you are young.” This was a common phrase that I heard whenever I traveled and encountered English-speaking people. Even though I consider myself very blessed to have the opportunity to travel to Europe, there is no age limit on traveling and exploring new and amazing places. It is never too early or too late to gaze at the Eiffel tower from a park bench while drinking a cup of Starbucks coffee, make a wish in the Trevi Fountain in Rome or go skiing in the French Alps.
I’m looking back at the pictures from when I just landed in France and I’m already experiencing feelings of nostalgia. If you ever plan to study abroad, which I hope you do, just know that one semester in not enough. You will become immersed in an unfamiliar culture and will accidentally use foreign words when talking to friends and family back at home; a mistake that you don’t totally feel sorry for.I consider myself very lucky to have been able to meet the amazing people that I did, travel to so many wonderful places and learn a lot more about this melting pot of a globe. This was a trip that I’ll never forget and I’m glad I was able to experience a little more of this inexhaustible variety of life. I will be back.
I will conclude my post with a quote by Jeff Goins. “You won’t always be young. And life won’t always be just about you. So travel, young person. Experience the world for all it’s worth. Become a person of culture, adventure, and compassion. While you still can.”
