Bon Voyage à Moi

Well I can hardly believe it, but it is my last night in France. It completely snuck up on me, yet here it is. I still have so many pictures that I haven’t posted, so many stories that I haven’t written. I meant to blog extensively this past week, but somehow it seemed wrong to spend all my last precious time on the internet instead of with Vlad, his family, or in Toulouse.

I will certainly miss this sight

When I return to the US, I will be faced with the formidable task of unpacking and reorganizing my life (just to pack it up and reorganize it again 2 weeks later when I return to university) and the marathon family Christmas visits that will start as soon as I wake up  in the US. I say all this to say that I may not post or write more. I would like to, but I know how life is. When I studied abroad in Buenos Aires I kept a diary, and the last few weeks I fell behind. I told myself when I returned to the US I would write the rest down, but I never did. I felt too removed from the experience.

This will certainly not be the last blog post I write however. I have absolutely loved having a blog and I look forward to another time in my life when I will be able to do this again. Reading my first entries and seeing my first adventures in France brings back so many special memories; I know this blog will be an invaluable souvenir. Furthermore, I have thoroughly enjoyed flexing my writing muscles. Like everything, you must practice writing to keep from getting “rusty”. The times when I wrote lengthy, thoughtful posts and then reread and edited them almost endlessly were really enjoyable for me.

But more than a souvenir, and more than writing exercises, the best part of my blog was the human connection. I’m so glad my family and friends back home read my blog; nothing made me happier than hearing how much they loved a certain post or picture. And then as a completely unexpected bonus, I was Freshly Pressed and through that made connections with so many other bloggers who are interested in what I post, and whose blogs I love reading as well. I never expected people I didn’t know to ever read my blog, so every new like, comment or follower touched me greatly.

The Pont Alexandre III – Credit: Vlad

The other day Vlad asked me if I thought my experience in France changed me at all. I thought for a moment and decided that no I was not changed, instead, I came into my own. I got to do all the things I love. I was constantly surrounded by history, architecture and beauty. I got to travel, see new places, visit museums and learn, meet truly caring people, write on a regular basis, and learn a new language. I didn’t change at all, rather, I settled into my identity. Which at just over 21, is a nice thing to settle into.

In Paris

To those reading who are waiting for me back home, see you very soon. And to those who found me through WordPress, thank you so much for reading and for your completely unexpected support and kind words.

Bonnes fêtes à tous!