Paris

Oh Paris! The city of love… I'm pretty sure we have all seen the typical cliché movie of a couple falling in love in the middle of a street in Paris. Aaaah, how romantic. However, now that I'm actually in Paris, let's talk about the reality of dating here. I have to start by saying that I'm currently single, although I have to admit that it was a choice that was highly influenced by studying abroad. This past summer I had the most romantic adventure I've ever had so far—I even thought I had found the dance partner I always dreamed of (imagine dancing bachata under the moonlight next to the Golden Gate Bridge, yeah, that was us). I had my little romantic summer adventure, but I didn't allow it to develop further because I was coming to Paris and knew that the little details that come with a long distance relationship start to add up and sometimes prevent you from enjoying your time since your mind and heart will be somewhere else. 

Another honest confession I have to make is that when I arrived, I definitely had the idea of maybe finding that French person who would show me the city and make me understand why Paris is called the City of Love. I know a lot of my peers came with that idea in mind. There is also the pressure of finding someone with whom you can only speak French—what a better way to learn French than dating in French?  When I moved to the US I didn't speak English, but the reason why I was able to learn it fast was because I unexpectedly started dating someone who didn't speak Spanish, so I was forced to try to speak English. I have to say that has been the fastest way to learn a language for me and I thought that could repeat itself here in France. Unfortunately, reality sinked in a little and since I personally don't like long-distance relationships, I've been avoiding the dating scene here in Paris. Again, that's just me personally…. 

But not everyone is avoiding dating. I have heard that some of my peers found dates that turned out really well and encouraged them to speak only French. At the beginning I also allowed myself to go on some dates…Imagine a picnic under a beautiful sunset next to the Eiffel Tower. Yes, as cliché as it sounds, it did really happen. Dating here in Paris isn't too hard with the right communities in the right places. However, it is really important to be super careful and always prioritize your safety. Nowadays dating apps are super popular, and Tinder is just as popular in France as in the US. However, you must take into consideration the dating culture in your host country as it might be REALLY different from the one you are used to. 

To conclude, YES! You can find your dance partner that will show you what the French kiss is all about and make you see where Hollywood gets its romantic film ideas from. But also, you can stay single and have as much fun too! The pressure of hearing other people getting dates might get on you, but just remember that you don't have to prove anything to no one. Being abroad is a fun experience with or without a dance partner. 

Have you ever read Shakespeare? Maybe you read Romeo and Juliet in high school. Well...today we’ll be talking about Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. In Act 3 Scene 1, Prince Hamlet is contemplating death and suicide while acknowledging how painful human life is, not quite realizing that the alternative may be worse. The phrase “to be or not to be” means to live or to die.

Now, what does this have to do with studying abroad? Well, I have invented a new phrase: “To travel or not to travel.” I bet you have a lot of questions, like what does it mean? Here is the big one: why did I invent something?

I recently came back from a trip to Nice and had the time of my life with a group of friends I met during this study abroad adventure. We went to the beach, traveled to nearby cities, and stayed in a gorgeous Airbnb.

What does this recent trip to Nice have to do with Hamlet? Or my newly invented phrase? 

Many of us are considering traveling to other areas of our designated countries or planning to travel while studying abroad. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but Covid has limited the amount of freedom when it comes to exploring other areas.

What I am saying is that… every study abroad adventure is different. You may not always travel with your friends to new places. You might even go by yourself and have a great time. You may not even go out of your designated country at all during your time there. Just remember to have fun and use all the time you have exploring areas you may not have seen before.

I didn’t plan to go to Nice when I planned on studying abroad in Paris. It turned out to be one of the best experiences I had to visit the Mediterranean. Despite getting fined almost $70 for a mistake, but you can’t let those things keep you from having a great time.

I want every person that is reading this blog post to know that deciding whether or not to travel is not a life-threatening thing. Don’t be a Prince Hamlet. If you want to explore your country, get outside the city, and see the beautiful countryside, do it. Watch how the night skies glow when you’re not under those thousands of lights that blind the stars. Remember to have fun and don’t miss out on your opportunities.

If you travel to other countries during your study abroad journey, just make sure to look at each country's guidelines and make sure you take care of yourself. Each country has different rules of entry, so make sure you do your research. If you end up getting fined like me, it’s fine. I will be there to hold your hand. If you choose not to travel, and you decide to stay in your designated country, enjoy yourself. You never know, you may end up having stories about a city that not many people may know about. Also, you will build a connection with your country that will last a lifetime. You never know what may happen.

“To travel or not to travel?” That is up to you.

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”

“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.”

“I don’t much care where –”

“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.”

― Lewis Carroll