Howdy!
As I sit down to write this post and reflect on my time abroad, I feel sad that it’s over, but I return home with so much. So much growth, so many memories, and some of the most meaningful friendships.
During my time studying abroad in Strasbourg and Paris, I gained far more than academic insight. While we were based in these incredible cities, I took the opportunity to explore beyond. I traveled to Milan, Genova, Porto Fino, Nice, Cannes, Monaco, and Switzerland. One of my most memorable weekends included paragliding over the mountains in Interlaken, Switzerland and having one too many pieces of chocolate. Each place we visited had its own history, charm, and something unique about it.
The first two weekends of the trip I mostly traveled with Emily, Macie, and Paulina. I quite literally cried on the F1 track in Monaco because we were laughing so hard, spent hours on trains studying with them, and gained the coolest sisters along the way. On our last free weekend, a group of nine of us went to Milan, and I had only really spoken to half of the group. Throughout the weekend we sprinted through train stations, walked what felt like miles with our suitcases, and shared meals while playing hot seat at dinner. This allowed me to learn so much about each individual that I probably wouldn’t have otherwise met.
Throughout my time in Europe one of the things that fascinated me the most was how easy it is to travel from country to country. The 27 member states of the EU work together to have a single market and this is something that I got to see first hand. Adjusting to different customs, languages, and social norms while abroad was both challenging and exciting.
To any student even remotely interested in studying abroad, ask questions and just go! It is one of the most growth inducing and impactful experiences you will ever have. You will see the most beautiful places, eat the best food, take thousands of pictures, but most importantly, you will return with a changed perspective on people, cultures, and the world around you.
