So far this year has been full of interesting events. It started out with the most entertaining New Years I’ve had yet, when we incorporated 2018 vibes as both the motto and our new way of life. What exactly does this mean though? I’ve been living it, but how does one define it.
Where were you when you heard that Donald Trump was going to be the next president of the United States? I was alone in my apartment in my Miami thinking, “Is this real?” while aggressively chugging pinot grigio. For many Americans, that day and that moment will be something to remember and to speak of for the rest of their lives.
I’ve been home for a week now and it feels like nothing has changed here. The family is doing well, Hinsdale is filled with familiar faces, and summer is beginning to make its appearance. It sometimes feels like this semester never even happened. It’s so easy to fall back into old routines and habits and get comfortable with what’s familiar. But as I look back at my pictures and read my journal, I remember all of the wonderful moments in the land across the pond.
It’s been just over 100 days since I arrived in Aix, and what an experience it has been. Realizing that this adventure is coming to an end is weird. I’ve begun packing, which has been surprisingly easier than expected, and throwing out endless class notes that I no longer need. I’m definitely ready for the school aspect to be done, but I am getting sentimental about the little aspects that make Aix, Aix.
Traveling is tiring. It takes a lot out of you, and it seems like this semester has been four months of non-stop travel. The plan for this past weekend was to go to Ibiza and have one last hurrah with my roommates before our final weeks here. It was going to be crazy, as Ibiza is known for its parties, and I was excited, but nervous about how tiring it would be on top of the already heavy exhaustion. So when I got the text alert from Ryanair that our flight was cancelled due to French airstrikes once again, I wasn’t heartbroken.
My first trip to Paris was in 2010 through my high school. There were about twenty students I had never met, and this was my first time abroad. I was nervous, exhausted, and unsure if I was going to make any friends. Our flight landed at 8 am, so naturally the tour guide thought it would be best to see all of Paris on that same day.
Hello all! It’s been a while since I’ve written anything, as my life has been crazy hectic with traveling, school, and family fun.
Wow! Time has flown by. I’ve been in Europe now for over a month. It’s crazy to look at my pictures and realize how much I’ve done in such a short time. While traveling on the weekends is always wonderful, I have also loved getting to learn about Aix and the quirks that go with it.
Today is the day!! After what seems like the longest winter of my life, the Netflix marathons have come to an end. I leave for Aix-en-Provence tonight to start my four-month journey in Europe! I am so much more excited than nervous at this point, and am ready to tackle the eight-hour plane ride.
As long as I can remember I have wanted to study abroad, and it seems like as soon as I knew what traveling was I was ready to take on the world. But this past month at home has been filled with nerves, anxiety, and anticipation for today. All of my friends at Miami were going through recruitment, getting back into classes, and going out with each other (#GroveThursdays), and I felt like I was missing out on everything. I know that sounds crazy. I’m going to France! How can I be jealous? But the fear of the unknown has been lingering for months now and not being in Miami really set me straight: France is a very real thing. Read More
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