Getting Excited!

Today is December 12th, only two days since I've left Marietta and I am already getting excited to go to France. My plane ticket is for January 3rd so I will arrive at the Paris airport the morning and January 4th. From there, I will take a train to Tours where I will meet my host family.

Currently, I am still waiting for my VISA from the embassy in Chicago so I am still a bit nervous about that. I have no doubt that it will come through but the waiting makes me anxious. Similarly, I do not know who my host family will be for my 3 month stay in Tours. I should receive this information within the next 2 weeks.

To reflect a bit on what I am hoping to accomplish, I'll first explain why I chose to study in France. Since I was 6 years old, I have experienced the French language and culture. My oldest sister traveled to France when I was only four years old and I remember hearing her stories and looking at her pictures. My entire family has been interested in the European culture since then. I started taking French classes in the 7th grade and have been taking them ever since. I considered studying in an English speaking country so that I would feel more at home. Ultimately, I chose to study in France because I feel like it will broaden my horizons and help me to understand something truly different than American ways. I was to fully immerse myself in an unfamiliar culture. I know it will help in my personal growth. I feel that in my studies of the language, I have somewhat hit a plateau and have had trouble grasping more language concepts. To me, the only way to overcome this plateau is to study in a country that speaks the language. I also hope to feel at home in Tours as it is a city built around its university. I chose this specific program (It's an AYA program through Bowling Green State University) because it gives me full immersion especially because my classes are totally in French. I also love that I will be staying with a host family.

I have done some reflection on what my goals are for my studying abroad experience. First and most importantly, I want to challenge myself to do something more than I ever have done before. Leaving the United States and all its comforts is going to be a very hard thing for me to do. I really am pushing myself and I want to learn all of what I am made of. Ultimately, I want to become more independent. Similarly, I want to overcome my plateau and become more fluent in the French language. Finally, I hope to learn more about the French culture and learn the inner workings of the country.

Make sure to check back for more! I leave in less than a month and have just started thinking about what to pack and such. There is so much to think about!