I had the absolute time of my life in Paris. It was my third time in Paris, I went once when I was 10 and once after I graduated high school but this experience was by far the most exhilarating, abundant, and rewarding. This was unique compared to my other experiences because I had a purpose and reason for going, to learn about everything French culture, from the language, food, traditions, values, and daily life.
Although this program was a short 5 weeks, I did my best to pacl everything I wanted to do plus some, without wasting a day or night. I made unforgettable memories and life-long friends that I can constantly reminisce about the summer of 2024 or dream about the future when we return to France.
What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
The most nerve-racking moment I had was one evening my friend and I were exploring, eating dinner, bonding, and having a great time, but as we were heading home, I realized my phone was going to die. Being in a foreign city, with moderate navigational skills and in a new area, I had to find a map of Paris in a metro station and find my way home. I needed to take three different metros to get home. It was stressful and took me about an hour and a half to get home after one u-turn and a couple of confusing conversations with locals; It was scary but exhilarating and exciting to finally get home without the technological ease that we so often rely on today.