Being in Strasbourg so far has already felt so surreal. I knew it was a French city of history, but I truly didn’t expect to be so impressed. Firstly, it’s a beautiful city, with cobblestone streets and old German architecture, along with gorgeous rivers running through it. It also isn’t an extremely touristy city at all like I had initially thought. I was extremely happy to find that I was in a place where I could really have the opportunity to adapt to local life and in time blend in.
That being said, I would definitely be lying if I didn’t say I wasn’t nervous. I came to Strasbourg knowing very very little French, so the language barrier has been a bit of a challenge. Little things like ordering food, or casually chatting with someone hasn’t been the easiest. I do somewhat miss being able to have a conversation with someone on a whim and understanding what everyone around you is saying, which is something I realized I took for granted back at home.
Still that’s what I’m here for! I want to pick up some French while I’m here, but more than that I really want to adopt some of the lifestyle differences I’ve seen. Things like how people take their time with meals, prioritize in person conversations and connections, and generally seem more intentional with their environment and routines.
One of the other amazingly interesting things has been learning about Strasbourg’s deep and complex history. I had no clue how significant this city was not only to French history, but European history as a whole. Strasbourg has been through so many cultural changes and it has stood throughout a plethora of significant historical time periods. Also, the public transportation system here is seriously amazing. It is so easy to hop on a tram or train and visit an entirely different country or city, it blows my mind.
So far, I have absolutely been loving my time here. I can’t wait to continue experiencing new and amazing things during my time in Strasbourg!
