I COULD BE ALONE YA, I CAN WATCH A SUNSET ON MY OWN

On the 9th day left abroading, Europe gave to me...

#17- GELATO
#16- ABROAD SONGS
#15- PERSISTENT HAWKERS
#14- ITALIAN WEATHER
#13- ABROAD CONSTANTS
#12- #STUDYABROADPROBLEMS
#11- OLD STOVE PORCELLINO
#10- 3,991 MILES


#9- PARIS, FRANCE


Paris was my first trip around Europe outside of Italy. It came at the perfect time for then when I needed a break from Italy's harsh culture shock the 3rd week abroad. I have always loved France, I took French for 3 years in high school (would have continued it in college but I didnt take it senior year so I didn't think I could do the intermediate I was placed in...then I found out intermediate was a joke at Stonehill and still kicking myself for wasting a year in elementary spanish..useless). So I have always loved France from afar with no real reason to, it's not like I'm French, but still definitely a favorite country. I love the culture, so to visit Paris was a major life goal completed. To stand under the Eiffel Tower and just take it all in, had a big impact on me. I didn't feel like myself abroad AT ALL until I arrived in Paris. I instantly felt like myself again, and I did not have one problem or complaint about Paris (aside from the self cleaning toilets... those do not work).


I genuinely regret not studying abroad in Paris. I always knew I wanted to visit it when I decided on studying abroad in Europe, but I regret not looking more into the possibility of me living there for a semester. I know if I worked on my French I could live there for at least 2 years, easily. I thought it would be just a place to visit, but I could seriously see myself having a life there. Now if only I learned French when I was 5 and my brain didn't stop developing so that I could pick up the language so easily.


That being said, I do however think Florence was extremely good for me because it gave me a lot of constructive life experience. Coming to a place I had practically no expectations for and dealing with it roughly made me a stronger person. I don't know if I could have got the classes I have in Florence in Paris. I got to see SO much of Italy because of my program, who knows if I would have been able to casually romp around France. I definitely wouldn't have had my amazing program advisors Chiara and Martina. I guess it will always be a what if type of scenario in my life whether or not how my life would be different if I went to France. Would I have grown as much as a person? I'll never know, but I guess the grass will always seem greener on the other side.


Irregardless  Regardless, Paris is definitely giving Australia a run for its money for where I want to honeymoon later in life. 


And oh my god the baked goods.... those alone made that trip worthy