Paris, Paris, Paris

I have officially been in Paris for two weeks, and it is hard to believe I’ll be headed home in just over a week. Somehow, this trip has gone by so quickly, yet I have learned and grown so much that it feels like a whole year must have passed.

My time in Paris has been slightly unconventional due to historical heatwaves, but I have been trying my best to make the most of it along with everyone else in my program. As I mentioned briefly in my last blog, Paris has been hot. During my first week here, the highs were often in the 100s Fahrenheit, and it would only drop to the high 80s at night. Because of this extreme heat, activities were limited. We were still able to visit a few places for class that week, including the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Marais neighborhood, and Monet’s Garden, but we were mostly confined indoors during the afternoon hours. However, before we knew it, the temperatures started dropping. Week two was filled with highs of 75 degrees Fahrenheit and beautiful morning walks to learn about the diverse architecture of Paris. This week, we visited Montmartre, the Pantheon, the Luxembourg Palace, and various churches around the city. Every so often, the breeze would hit just right, and I would have goosebumps on my arms, which felt so nice after the heatwave.

My class, History of Paris in Architecture and Art, is awesome. One morning, our professor bought a small pastry for everyone in our class because she claimed it was the best boulangerie in the neighborhood. It was definitely delicious. Pastries aside, our professor is really so enthusiastic about everything we are learning. As I have mentioned in the past, I did not come in with a background in art history. However, our class explains complex topics in ways that are easy to understand. I have even found myself answering questions and sharing my thoughts during class which is something I sometimes struggle with in my normal classes at my university. This class is also an amazing way to get to know the city of Paris. 

As almost all of our classes consist of three hours of walking around different neighborhoods to learn about different styles of architecture, I have had the opportunity to visit so many areas that I may not have known about otherwise. Especially with the heat, it is so nice to have that time to explore every morning. It makes me feel a little better about having to stay inside later in the day. Our class is also small with only 15 students, so we have all gotten to know each other pretty well. Overall, I have been pleasantly surprised by my classes. They offer the perfect balance of schoolwork and exploration, and I feel grateful to have the opportunity to study art in some of the most artistic cities.

For my final week abroad, I look forward to savoring each moment. While the heatwave is unfortunately coming back, I’m excited to discover more of Paris, buy some little souvenirs, and spend more time with everyone in my program. It’s hard to believe we will all be apart in just one week after spending almost every day for the last two months together. For this post, my three words to describe the last couple weeks are steps, refreshing, and new. Paris has a totally unique vibe from Rome, and I have been walking around like crazy to explore as much as I can. My advice for this post is to embrace not knowing. Studying abroad comes with so many unknowns, such as schedule changes, new people, and new cities, and it can feel overwhelming. It may be easier said than done to accept what you might not be able to prepare for, but try to trust yourself. Each day abroad is shaping you into a flexible, resilient person, and your strength to overcome uncertain situations only grows with each experience. Say “yes” often, and you won’t regret all of the opportunities that come your way.