C'est Fini

Well, the end has arrived. My pink suitcase is zipped (but not yet locked. There are always those few last minute things to be thrown in).  My souvenirs are wrapped in miscellaneous articles of clothing to ensure that despite TSA's best attempts, they will arrive back in the states in one piece.  I have checked in for my flight online and I have retrieved my passport from the depths of the hotel room safe. This summer has been one of movement, progression, and change.  In spite of my initial naive hope of having "one last carefree summer before the real world," I was pushed head first by fate into reality and adult responsibility. First by my family and I losing our rock (my grandma). Then, two days after her funeral I had to say goodbye to my friends, family, ice cubes, ranch dressing, high speed internet, and the other comforts of home. I had to break off from my parents embraces at the airport even though all I wanted to do at that moment was cling to their legs like a toddler and beg to stay. But, I promised grandma I would go to Paris and I knew that I would regret it forever if I did not go. So, I boarded the plane and flew half way around the world. First to England and then to France.  I was flung into a group of 70 strangers that I would be living and going to school with for the next seven weeks.  All I wanted to do was go home, crawl into my bed, and hide under the covers.  There is no greater fear than that of the unknown.  Eventually, I realized I AM IN PARIS!!! I snapped out of my anti-social coma and I went everywhere, did everything, and in the process, those strangers became friends.  Crazy, unique, amazing friends that I never would have met had it not been for this trip. In fact, I do not know what I am going to do without them when we all board our separate planes tomorrow.  Thanks to the wonders of Facebook and Skype, however, I will be able to be in Texas, Kansas, Alabama, Georgia, Massachusetts, California, Oregon, and New York talking to my friends with just one click.  I also met some incredible french people while over here. The stereotype about the rude french is just that, a stereotype.  Sure, there were rude people, but no more than in the States or anywhere else.  Were there crazy people? Yes....metro cars full of them in fact lol. But my experience would not have been the same without the Senegalese people selling Eiffel Tower keychains at EVERY tourist attraction (Or their selling tactics.."One euro, one euro for you. One keychain for one kiss. Come on Shakira Shakira...Bling Bling"), or the old lady who would get on the metro and sing at the top of her lungs, not for money, but just for the hell of it.  I had multiple life-changing experiences and grew as a person more than I ever expected.  I have become a more independent, cultured, tolerant person (At least I like to think so).  I have discovered a newfound appreciation and fascination of art.  In fact, while over here I added an art history course to my fall schedule.  Though I will miss the city of lights, and I am sure two weeks from now I will do anything to hop aboard the next plane to Paris, I am ready to go home.  I miss my family and my friends from back home and from school. I miss my cats, having more than six outfits to chose from, and being able to just hop in my car and drive anywhere I need to go.  I just miss familiarity.  So, as I end one adventure, I know I am just beginning another.  I move back to school on Monday to begin my Junior year of college. I have no idea where the last three years have gone and I plan to enjoy every minute of this one! In the spring it is already time to start doing campus visits for graduate school.  This summer has helped me realize that I should not be afraid of change.  Starting over in a new place with new people is sometimes exactly what we need.  So, au revoir Paris and hello East Peoria/Edwardsville. I will end with one final quote. “As the traveler who has once been from home is wiser than he who has never left his own doorstep, so a knowledge of one other culture should sharpen our ability to scrutinize more steadily, to appreciate more lovingly, our own.” -Margaret Mead.

J'aime La Plage

I love the beach! Some friends and I took a much needed break from the city this weekend (I know...I know... it's Paris! And as much as I love Paris, it can grate on the nerves just like any other city). We took a vacation from our vacation and it was incredible! Eight of us headed down to the french Mediterranean cost to an old port town called Marseille. It was also the main setting for the book/movie the Count of Monte Cristo. In fact, the prison Edmond Dantes was housed in, the Chateau d'If is located on an island just off the coast of Marseille! Our train left Paris late Friday night. Most of us dozed off during the 3 hour train ride. So, when I heard very rapid french being spoken over the loud speaker and caught the word "depart," two of my friends and I grabbed our bags and headed off the train.  Luckily, my friend had left her cell phone in the train and a french woman brought it to us outside. I did not see any signs that said Marseille, so to be sure I asked her if we were there. "No!!! " she cried.  We did not realize that our train had more than one stop. Luckily we quickly hopped back on the train before it took off and after a lot of laughter and humiliation, made it safely to Marseille around 1 am. Our hostel was located right by the train station which was very convenient.  I was a little nervous about staying in a hostel for the first time, but it was actually a really cool experience.  It was nice to interact with other travelers from around the world.  After what felt like no sleep, we began our first day in Marseilles.  After grabbing our metro pass and some breakfast, we headed down to the old port which is the central hub of the town.  From there we decided that we all wanted to spend the day at the beach.  After what was hands down the most beautiful bus ride of my life (cliffs on one side, Mediterranean Sea on the other) we found a nice beach.  There was a restaurant that had beach chairs and umbrellas on a private section of the beach.  They had a deal where you could get a chair for the day, drinks, and lunch.  I had a salad with duck, chicken, and french fries with local herbs.  It was so delicious.  That night we went to a seafood restaurant. All of the ingredients caught fresh! We went to a pub for some drinks and then headed back to the hostel for the night.  The next day we split up and had another day of exploration.  Some people went on a boat tour but with my motion sickness, I chose to further explore the beach. After having an amazing dinner at an italian restaurant, we all reluctantly boarded our late night train back to Paris. None of us wanted to leave! But we all left with tans (or sunburn), beautiful pictures (to follow once my computer cooperates), and memories that will last a lifetime! It is hard to believe that I only have 11 days left in Paris.  I will have very busy days to make sure that I accomplish everything I wanted to accomplish while here! I love it over here and I love the amazing new friends I have made but I am also ready to see my family and all of my friends from back home. I am sure the rest of my trip is going to fly by, but I promise not to take a single second of it for granted. I have found a lot of excellent quotes about traveling, but I think this is the one I can relate to most right now. "Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on deep and permanent, in the ideas of living."-Miriam Beard