It keeps hitting me randomly throughout the week that I’m in France! Studying abroad has been an adjustment period like nothing I’ve ever experienced. My body has been accommodating a new time zone, language, home, culture, diet, routine, and pretty much everything else that makes up one’s life. It’s both as hard as I was expecting, and so much easier. I’ve been surprised by how quickly I began to adapt to this new way of life. Learning by watching others, asking questions, and —unfortunately—embarrassing myself more times than I can count. But, that’s the best way to learn because you will never make the same mistake twice!
That isn’t to say it hasn’t been hard. There have been moments where it feels incredibly overwhelming to have everything around me be entirely unknown. To get myself through these moments, I remind myself these feelings are incredibly normal and I shouldn’t feel guilty about them because they will pass. And every time, they have.
After landing in Aix-en-Provence, I was quickly directed to the bus station to meet my host mother. It was a whirlwind of emotions. I was tired, nervous, excited, and disoriented. On the car ride to her small apartment tucked into the suburbs of Aix, it hit me that this would be my life now. My jetlagged brain fumbled its way through describing my flights in French, and translating her responses in my head.
Since that first day, I have gotten more and more used to my new life here. I have been enjoying my daily routine of walking through the streets of the city center, grabbing a coffee or a pastry in between my classes, and taking in the sun.
Southern France is known for its sunlight, and so far it has not disappointed! We’ve had a few rainy days here and there, but nothing compared to what I’m used to back in Oregon. I’m constantly amazed by this city’s beauty and by the rich history weaved throughout the architecture. I can not wait to keep discovering everything the city of Aix-en-Provence has to offer me.
À bientot!
Ella