I am so excited to start the Paris Internship program with IES Abroad this summer!

Bonjour, Jacques here! I’m writing this from the airport, bag packed and suitcase checked, and I’m listening to the new Vampire Weekend. Just yesterday, I submitted the last assignment due for spring semester which means I’m done with all the classes required for my major! Whoo! All that’s left is this internship abroad and I’ll have the last credits I need, so I’ll graduate at the end of summer. I’m so excited to end 16 years of schooling and start a career as a Real Adult. I’ll wear blazers!

Well I'm back in the U.S., and I'm dealing with a whole array of bittersweet emotions.

Slipping back into my American routine was like putting on a forgotten favorite sweater that had fallen into some hidden crevice of my closet. You hadn't really thought about it much while it was gone, but you have so many fond memories of it, and you're glad to have it back. It feels nice to rest in my own bed again, to walk the familiar paths of my town, and to cook with proper teriyaki sauce again.

This past weekend, my friends and I set off to spend our weekend in Patagonia. We chose San Carlos de Bariloche as our destination, which is a city that sits at the foothills of the Andes and on the shores of the Nahuel Huapai Lake. Bariloche is famous for its incredible panoramic views of the lake and mountains, and is often used as a hopping-off point for travelers who are making their way through the region of Patagonia. 

The Spanish you have learned in your high school and university classrooms is invariably different than the Spanish you will encounter abroad. Before coming to Argentina, I heard a lot about the thick Argentine accent, which is famous for pronouncing its double l’s differently than every other Spanish-speaking country in the world. While this is true, and while Argentines do tend to speak incredibly quickly, it is not too hard to adjust to. But it does help to know a few colloquial phrases before you go abroad.

To be truthful, I originally wavered about my decision to go abroad. The uncertainty of traveling far away to stay in a foreign place with no familiar faces overwhelmed me. However, my curiosity in the opportunity and comfort in others' stories pushed me to look past my doubts. In the beginning, I stated that, "I am most excited to be pushed outside of my comfort zone. There is no way to be certain of what I will encounter but I know that it is an opportunity like no other".

The last week in Nantes I found myself on a boat along the Erdre River, in a room filled with host families, and in a University professor’s office, offloading all I knew about women in politics in the modern era. It was—you guessed it—finals week, and our last week here! The last week of the semester in college is a notoriously stressful and complex time—you’re bombarded with papers, tests, or presentations; you’re preparing for all these; and you’re trying to see all your friends one last time.

My program ended a few days ago, and there are so many aspects of my time in Siena that I miss with all of my heart. Here are a few.

1. My friends. Since my program is small and there are only a few classes, it was easy to get really close to the other students. We were with each other for almost four months, seeing each other almost every day and traveling together on weekends. We ate together, studied together, went out on weekends together, and I miss them all so much. We had inside jokes that people at home just don’t understand.

My semester is nearly over, and I pack up to leave Berlin in under a week. I’ve used the last few weeks to explore Berlin, fit in some last-minute museum trips, and I took my final weekend trip. Last weekend, I met my friend Sierra in Barcelona for three days of anticipated sunshine and fun.

It has almost been a week since I returned to New York City. I miss Freiburg and my friends that I made in the EU program, although I am glad to be back at home. As promised, here is my final blog post discussing the benefits I obtained from participating in this program.