As the end of the semester creeps closer and closer, I can’t help but ponder my departure from studying abroad in France.
When I first landed in France a bit of homesickness set in and my return home seemed like a million years away. Now I have but a few fleeting weeks left in this beautiful country and feel my sentimental side becoming more prominent.
France is a country with so much character. Despite the adoption of many American things into its culture, the country has preserved a rich and complex lifestyle. It is these little, charming differences that make France such an interesting place to live.
In honor of Buzzfeed and other listology sites, here are some of the things that I will have a hard time parting with:
”Bonjour!”
Maybe Beauty and the Beast overdid it a little, but you will seldom walk down a street without hearing a courteous “Bonjour.” The French language is one of the most beautiful in the world therefor I will take any opportunity to have it grace my ears.
Since I do come from a large metropolitan area in the US, it is rare for people to take the time from their hustle and bustel to acknowledge people on the street. We could learn a thing or two from the French and slip in a simple “Hello” before sticking our headphones in.
Wine, cheese, bread, wine, cheese, bread, wine, cheese, bread
My pants or exercise routine might not miss this, but my stomach sure will! France offers the ultimate trifecta of dining and for ridiculously cheap. A 4£ bottle of wine that doesn’t taste like rubbing alcohol is something that deserves to be in every country.
I won’t even get started on the cheese. All must experience for themselves once in their life.
The Relaxed French Lifestyle
To describe the life of university students in the States in a word: stressful. Sure, I am here studying abroad so it is going to a little less stressful, however after speaking with working people and students I see how much more calm they are. Us Americans spread ourselves too thin and do not know how to balance work and play. The French have perfected this.
This aspect of France is something I would like the US to sit down and study. Five weeks of vacation in France is commonplace, while we might see such a thing after 10+ years at a job. Calm down, America. We’re only on Earth for so long and we might as well enjoy it as much as possible!
Being a rarity
This one is a little bit for my ego, however it is nice to be appreciated! In my small city of Pau in southern France, there are not many Americans that come through. As a result of this, people are genuinely intrigued when they meet me and show interest in how things are in my country.
Many Americans grow tiresome of foreigners (maybe it’s because some people are overexposed to them in certain areas?) yet despite the stereotype, the French are very hospitable to Americans and other foreigners.
It will be a sad day to leave behind the excited, “You’re from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania? Wow! What’s it like there?”, and come back to the monotone, “Oh, you’re from Pennsylvania. That’s nice.”
The list of things I will miss about this semester is endless. From seeing the peaks of the Pyrenees Mountains everyday to sneaking to the two Irish bars in town where I can order in English, I was very fortunate this semester and remind myself of that quite often.
It is the little things that I will miss and leave behind, but the big things, such as the friends and experiences I have had, will stay with me in some way long after I leave here.
Rather than end of a sad note, I will list the many little things I miss about America that will make my return bearable:
-Oreos (and all the flavors of them)
-Taco Bell
-Happy Hour
-Shops being open on Sunday
-Not worrying about making a mistake while speaking the native language
-No exchange rate for money
The list goes on, but I’ll end it there so I don’t start thinking about Oreos again. These things may seem petty, yet it is these little things that make a place home. The small comforts that you take for granted add up and become very hard to live without when going abroad for an extended period of time.
Before my time is up here I will be sure to bask in the glory of southern France before going back to the States and eating every type of junk food imaginable.
If you are thinking about booking a language course abroad, go for it, I highly recommend France.
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