Au Revoir Paris

It is the last week of my semester abroad! It is surreal how time has flown by. In my block program, I have been blessed to spend 6 weeks each in Sydney, Rome, and am in week 6 in Paris now! I think this type of program has definitely made time go by faster, rather than if I stayed in one city, but I would not change it for anything. There is no other way I could have experienced 3 very distinct cultures, made friends from all over the world, and gotten to live out my dream in amazing cities!

Last night with friends made in Sydney

Final moments in Rome

During my time in Paris, I was at first uneasy about navigating everything in French, but leaning on my 7 years of schooling in French, I practiced speaking in daily situations when it was scary. I have realized it is truly not possible to improve without having some embarrassing mistakes. Watching a close friend I made here attempt French in every situation before reverting to English when it is needed has really inspired me to do the same. I love seeing the progress we have both made, with both of us being complimented by the French on our attempts.

One of the biggest lessons I have learned is how to navigate a major city’s public transportation system. From trams, trains, to buses, I have done it all. Dealing with line closures, detours, and metro cars packed to the brim have tested me, but I can confidently say that I could get anywhere in Paris on my own.

I have changed in many ways during this semester, probably a lot of ways I have yet to recognize in myself. Upon immediate reflection, I have grown to be ready to throw myself into unfamiliar situations with new people much more readily. Moving to a new country 3 times and starting all over, knowing no one in each new city felt similar to the experience of the first week of freshman year in college. There were a lot of nerves, but those are also some of the most exciting times! By talking to as many people as I could, I have found so many friends I never could have anticipated. I am very happy to be able to say I have new friends all over the United States to visit when I return!

Friends in Paris!

I am beyond sad for my time in Paris to be ending, but I am going to make it the best week yet! I have been making a list of all my favorite spots that I am going to go back to one more time. So far, the list includes an incredible Greek restaurant, my favorite bakery called Mamiche, and another visit to the Eiffel Tower to take some last photos there. One of my favorite things about Paris is how full of life the city is. I love just sitting and watching all the people walk around and enjoy the beauty of the city. Even though there are a million more places I’d love to see in the city, I am going to take it easy and just appreciate being present here.

weekend trip to Monaco

Although it is difficult for me to think about going home, there are some things I am looking forward to. Most of all, I cannot wait to give my family members a big hug and tell them all about my adventures abroad. One of the best parts about studying abroad is that it lacks a steady routine because I am always doing new things planned on the go, but when I go home having a sense of routine will be nice. I look forward to rejoining my gym and going there routinely, getting back into cooking and trying new recipes at home, and spending time diving into some new hobbies this summer. I also can't wait to get Chick-fil-a and wander around Target, of course.

I am so excited to return to USC and be back on a college campus in the community again. I have been missing all of my friends and cannot wait to catch up on a semester’s worth of events. Going back, I will be a senior, which feels so surreal. Having some time away has made me be much more appreciative of the time I have left and has reminded me to always try to live in the moment and make memories to last a lifetime.