Be sure to read Part 1 of my blog first!
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My first time abroad… ! My own place… ! Cooking for myself! Cleaning for myself! Going shopping for myself! Doing everything and anything for myself excited and empowered me. If you haven’t guessed already, I am an only child and to be able to step out alone in the world, in a different country away from ultra-loving parents, was marvelous, or at least I thought it would be in the beginning!
My first big victory was taking the train to Versailles to visit the famous Châteaux of the many generations of French royalty. Then there was a day trip to Lilles, a party-city similar to Montreal, yet not knowing anyone made it a simple trip of voyeurism and curiosity. The fun really began when I started meeting students from Sciences Po. Ironically, my first wave of friends was all Germans. It was so confusing! I thought I was in Paris to meet French people, but I loved it just the same. Actually, my group of German friends was constantly going on cultural tours: visiting museums; going to new restaurants; going to see plays; and really tasting the higher art of Paris. I, on the other hand, strayed from that original goal.
I traveled to Amsterdam three times. I also went to Barcelona with my best friends from Montreal: twin brothers who were on exchange in the South of France. After that, they spent a week with me in Paris and I spent a week with them in Nice. I even had a girlfriend for about two months. Somehow, I was still able to get all my work done too! Toward the end of my journey, I got to know some French film makers, and even had an opportunity to put together a short music video, which I filmed at my studio of 20 rue de Grenelle.
In this life, we never have too much time. I only realized that toward the end of my six months abroad. Here is my recommendation to any student who decides to embark on a journey of exchange: push yourself to be uncomfortable as fast as possible. Do not let yourself slide into modes of comfort. We are creatures of habit, but we all could be creatures of spontaneity as well.
Although it feels like a dream since I came back in January of 2013, I will never forget walking down my street of rue de Grenelle. No matter what happened, or didn’t happen, on any given day, the street was magical, it was comfortable, and most of all, it was meaningful to me.