When I first thought about visiting France, I must admit that my ideas were relatively self-centered. I had always wanted to study abroad, and I wanted to do it in a way that I thought would provide me with the best experience. For me, this looked like traveling with my best friends, going to a place that wasn’t too different from home, and knocking out a few classes in the meantime. When I think about the most rewarding part of my experience abroad so far, however, I quickly see that the most meaningful parts of the trip were the ones that I could never have planned for myself. Making new friends, loving new foods, and encountering new cultures were things I expected to do on a study abroad, but what completely took me by surprise was the impact that these experiences would have on me. In such a short time, I have connected with students on the trip, tried all kinds of French delicacies that I otherwise never would have, and even bonded over dinner with an old German art dealer, who rocked my world with his passion for life and his stories of traveling around the globe. Through my experiences thus far, I have developed an even greater appreciation for other cultures, people, and walks of life that I was unfamiliar with at the start of the trip. I have become more open-minded and culturally intelligent, and I have grown significantly in my passion for travel and trying new things. Overall, I am grateful for the things that I am learning and excited to see what the rest of the trip will hold!
