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Study Abroad in Paris: Bonjour de Paris

By: Taylor York

I woke up yesterday morning with nearly every emotion combined: sadness, excitement, fear, anxiety, confusion. It was the day I had been waiting to come for months, and it didn’t even seem real. I said goodbye to the small slice of this world I call home to embark on one of the biggest adventures I may ever experience.

I left to study abroad in Paris. Of course, I knew the day was coming. I went to orientation; I finished my pre-departure assignments; I called my phone company to get international service; I got an international card from my bank; and I spent hours upon hours packing. Basically, I did everything I could possibly do to be fully prepared, but it still didn’t seem real. As the day progressed, these mixed feelings got stronger, and I wondered, “What have I gotten myself into?” My family and I loaded up the car and headed to Atlanta. On the way, I replayed a checklist in my head over and over, hoping I had gone over every single detail. I felt confident. Nothing could go wrong. When we arrived at the airport, my excitement and nervousness grew.

My family and I went inside and waited to meet the other students and professors. In the meantime, I decided to check the weight of my bags to double check that they met requirements. One was slightly over the limit, so my mom helped me shuffle some of my stuff to my other bag to adjust the weight. Then, the one thing I hadn’t prepared for went wrong. My suitcase zipper completely broke off. I panicked, my family panicked, and we tried to fix it, but nothing would work. Thankfully there was one suitcase left in a nearby shop that was the right size! Thanks to my family, I got a new suitcase, and my nerves slowly started to calm down. I don’t know what I would have done without their support.

Next, it was time for goodbyes. There were laughs, tears, hugs and smiles. But I knew I would see them again soon. Now, it was time to truly begin my adventure–after an eight-hour flight of course! I can’t wait to see the beautiful city of Paris. Until next time! Au revoir!

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