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andreahummel76

10 jours en France

I’ve been in France for just a little over a week now, despite the fact I feel like I’ve been here for much longer. I’ve managed to squeeze so much into the past 10 days it’s hard to believe this is only my second week. In the time I’ve been here I’ve started my two classes, taken a boat ride on the Seine, visited the Luxembourg Gardens, visited the Louvre, taken walking tours of the first and fifth arrondissements, visited the Eiffel Tour, traveled to the Brittany region of France to visit Saint-Malo, Rennes, and Mont Saint-Michel, and eaten countless amazing meals along the way. I arrived in Paris on May 13 unsure of what to expect for my month’s stay. However, I can confidently say that this first week has lived up to all of my expectations and more.

Although I’ve visited some incredible places in the past 10 days, my absolute favorite experiences have been my interactions with the French. When I arrived in Paris, I was, naturally, quite nervous for what to expect. Residing with a family you didn’t previously know is a bit intimidating and will truly put your language abilities to the test. However, my mind was put at ease within minutes of meeting my host family. I spent my first evening in Paris hanging out with my host family’s daughter and her friends. I got to meet and talk to several French people around my age and it was during this evening that I was reminded of why I fell in love with the French language and International Studies in the first place. Being able to connect with people who live on a different continent, who are of a different culture, and who speak a completely different language is an amazing thing. Learning a foreign language as well as learning about other parts of the world is your ticket to those connections. I shared stories and laughs with everyone I met that evening, just as I had when I participated in my high school’s French exchange. I absolutely adore these moments. Furthermore, I have been able to meet up with a couple of the friends I made through my high school’s exchange and was equally as elated to spend time with them. Experiences like these, where I’m able to bond with people from another country, are what I cherish the most about traveling abroad. They’re a reminder that we, as humans, are way more similar than we are different.

Of course, this isn’t to say that the past 10 days have been absolutely perfect. I have felt quite sleep deprived on many occasions trying to balance my two classes with a packed tourist itinerary. My legs were incredibly sore getting used to the amount of walking that is required living in this city. Additionally, it’s been quite difficult to find time to call home or message my friends. I have also found myself on more occasion than one not understanding the French that was spoken to me and needing to awkwardly figure out how to navigate the conversation. However, I think of these moments as simply part of the experience. When I’m feeling tired, homesick, or like my French isn’t good enough, I can take a look around and remind myself how fortunate I am to be studying abroad in Paris and getting to meet some amazing people.

When I first arrived in Paris, a man who works for the organization that this study abroad program is through came to greet all of us University of Florida students at the airport. One of the first things he said on our ride from the airport to Paris was, “In the United States you work, work, work. Here, on profite !” Essentially, what he was saying is despite Paris being a huge city with people on the go constantly, Parisians also know how to take their time and enjoy life. This is most evident by the fact that the French will get a table at a café, sit outside, and stay there for hours just talking, drinking, and watching as people go by. Being an American and being used to rushing in and out of restaurants to move on to the next task on the to-do list, this aspect of French culture is quite refreshing. Although it’s absolutely not perfect (and the French would be the first to tell you that), Paris has a special place in my heart. Equally, so do the French and I look forward to enjoying life as they do for the next three weeks.

Jusqu’à la prochaine fois !

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