I’ve never felt a deeply rooted connection to my home town the same way others do. My family and I are wanderers, finding solace in a plane ride to a new destination; always planning our next escape from Massachusetts. The ease I feel when adapting to new surroundings is why studying abroad was a no-brainer, so I, Paris made a home for myself in London, England during my Fall 2016 semester. My time abroad was an opportunity to venture further, pushing my levels of comfortability while keeping my mothers saying, “safe and protected, all the time” in mind everywhere I went. Going abroad can change someone’s life; it most definitely changed mine.
While abroad, one of the most important places for me to visit was Paris, the city I share my name with (but am not named for). It was the first place I went for my two week break from classes, and my trip was led by a teacher from my program who knew the city well. Needless to say, I thrived during my time in Paris. From the bakeries to the architecture, I immediately understood the romance so many describe when talking about the city, yet I enjoyed how it was a little rough around the edges, so it still felt human.
Much like in London, I made myself at home in Paris, too. A pivotal moment during this trip was the day we ventured to Porte de Clignancourt to visit the Saint-Ouen Flea Markets, a vast series of antique and vintage markets settled on the outskirts of Paris. Being someone who likes to take her time, I had decided the only way to truly experience the markets in the way I wanted was to do it alone. The friends I was traveling with were skeptical at first; I was not.
I felt comfortable. Although much of it was unknown to me, I was able to find my grounding. What I experienced was something so personal, it’s almost unexplainable. To go into the shops which interested me, spending as much time as I needed without feeling rushed or pushed around, was a sigh of relief from the fast paced life I was living at the time. I took time examining the high fashion vintage pieces and marveled at the antique home decor; as if I was in a museum. For me, it wasn't about the need to buy a vintage Chanel handbag to say, “I bought it in Paris!” It was enough to just be present, with the same ease I feel in my bedroom at home.
I am proud that during my time overseas I conquered both London and Paris, two cities I had only dreamt of living in before. I encourage any student skeptical of studying abroad to leap without fear and find comfort in a new home.
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