I think it’s fair to say that I have wanted to study abroad for my entire life. Ever since I was little, my parents have talked to me about how wonderful it would be to do “a semester at sea.” I did not need a whole lot of cajoling because I tend to be a pretty wanderlustful individual—I was wholeheartedly sold on the idea. If I carry my sense of home with me wherever I go, why not venture out into the world?
After over a decade of anticipation, it is a bit surreal to think that my time to study abroad is not only nigh, but also now halfway through. I know I’m echoing the sentiment that “time flies,” but half the time I feel like I am standing still, witnessing the present whirl around me and become the past before I can properly even take note of where I am.
You can take inventory of your surroundings, of your body, of the contents of your purse. Chalk it up to my Jesuit education, but I think the most important thing to examine is your internal self. Studying abroad has been the biggest chance I have ever had to take a step back and take inventory of my character.
Perhaps all this reflection is why this semester has not been wholly easy for me. I have dealt with external stresses of not knowing the language and the culture, of feeling like an outsider, of struggling with even everyday tasks. Every single one of these challenges gave way to a lot of reflection on who I am and who I want to be.
So because of these struggles, and not in spite of them, living abroad has been one of the most formative periods of my life.
When I chose to come to France, I gave myself a change of scenery, a change of pace, and a change of attitude. It turned out to be a much bigger challenge than I anticipated. But I have tried to reap every benefit I could.
I am proud of the person I am more than I have ever been in my life. Not only this, but I also understand myself more fully. I feel like I have more of a purpose and clear understanding of what I want in the big picture and what I want my future to look like.
I believe that wherever I am is exactly where I need to be. This semester abroad has been exactly what I needed in my life, and I will always be grateful for it.
But I am more grateful to know that it is not over yet. I have a whole semester left, and I promise you I am going to make the most of it. I’m looking forward to the next few months, as always.
Happy Holidays!
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Unfortunately, this will be my last HerCampus Study Abroad Blog post! I hope you have enjoyed my Study Abroad Blog posts as much as I have enjoyed sharing them with you. To keep reading about me next semester, check out my blog, mi-chemin. A tout à l’heure!
Want to catch up on all my Lyon posts? You can do that here:
Packin’ It Up
How do you say, “stressful,” in French?
A Saturday in Vieux Lyon
Journées du Patrimoine
Problems with Paperwork
Sittin’ in a Café
At the Movies with Gérard Depardieu
Break for Barcelona
Biking Around Town
Bon Voyage!
No Place Like Home
Finals in France
Wine Tasting
Thoughts on Thanksgiving
A Week in the (French) Life
Fête des lumières