Au Revoir

It is over. The study abroad has officially come to an end, and I have officially been home for 2 whole days. I said my final goodbyes to my beautiful city of Paris on Tuesday, spent a night in London, and came home Wednesday. Never in my life has time flown by so quickly than it did this semester. 

It was weird to leave. Part of me was so excited to come home. I missed so many things about America and home. But at the same time, that last day was when I really saw Paris for how completely beautiful it was, and I realized just how much I had loved being there, which made it really bittersweet to go. 

I decided to go on this study abroad on a whim. It was a really last minute decision to apply, and even then it was just to see if I would even get in. I had no idea if I really wanted to go, how I would pay for it, or what the point of it was, I just did it. I am so incredibly glad I did. 

There's that saying, that says that "everything happens for a reason". I usually hate that saying because at the time, you have no idea why something is happening. My favorite thing about life though, is that you ALWAYS see the reason eventually. There was a huge reason why I needed to go to Paris, and it wasn't to get better at French, see amazing sights, learn more about the culture, or eat lots of really good cheese. I had to go to Paris to find myself. Who knew it would take leaving everyone I was comfortable with and going across the world? Maybe it was all about going out of my comfort zone so far that I had to sink or swim, or maybe I just needed a change of pace. Regardless or what it was, this experience has completely changed my life. 

What did I learn while I was there, you're wondering? Let me tell you. (In list form, of course.) 

I learned:

-my worth in the eyes of God

-what my talents are

-what my weaknesses are

-how to make and keep friends

-how to tell real friends from the fake ones

-be happy despite your circumstances

-moving on takes time

-to find joy in the little things

-my love language (haha thanks Mallory!)

-art doesn't get better, it only changes

-to appreciate art in general 

-how to live without a cell phone

-laughter is literally the best medicine

-fake snow makes me cry

and last, and most importantly, I learned how to love myself, despite all my flaws. The good things and the bad things are what make me who I am, and that has to be good enough. 

I just am so completely happy. Even when things go wrong, and even though my life isn't perfect, I found an optimism and confidence that left me a long time ago. After leaving behind so many things that were weighing me down, I finally feel like myself again.  And I have God and Paris to thank for that. 

 Donc, merci beaucoup, et au revoir Paris. Tu me manques.