Paris,
Paris, Paris. What an amazing city. After spending three weeks hearing how much
I wont like Paris because the people are stuck up and the city is dirty I am
happy to report that Paris might just be added to the “favorite city” list. The
city itself was astounding and don’t even get me started on how beautiful some
of the people were, one stereotype about Paris that is true is the fact that no
matter what socioeconomic class you are apart of, you dress well. And boy did
they. But I am not a fashion blogger so all you need to know is that the people
are gorgeous, nothing more and nothing less. I really want to talk about the
city it self though, there are so many important historical monuments that
reflect on different events through history. Whether you’re going to visit Notre
Dame, the Louvre or Arch de Triumph you’re going to see a lot.
We were
busy from the very minute we arrived, the train ride was rough to say the least
after our final night in Toulouse where the whole crew went out with our good
friend Elie. The trip from the train to our hotel was more annoying than
anything; I don’t think they have figured out escalators in Paris yet so
lugging a 57 pound suit case half way across the city was…a work out. But once
we finally arrived everyone’s spirits lifted almost instantly.
Out of
all the experiences we took part in during out stay in Paris I want to reflect
on just a couple. First is Monet. Ok well that may not seem like an experience
per say but it seems like everything I enjoyed the most he had a hand in. We visited
his home in Giverny and what a place, I had no idea that he was such a
passionate gardener. He seriously created one of the most elaborate landscapes
I have ever seen; everything flowed almost poetically. But seeing the
landscapes that he painted so many times over and walking through the same
hallways that he did really took me away. A few days later we visited an art
museum that featured a large number of his paintings and I would not have
appreciated it nearly as much as I did if we had not visited his house first;
where he found so much inspiration.
Now I
want to talk about something that I think students sometimes lose sight of
while on a study abroad. GET OUT AND MEET PEOPLE. I can not even tell you how
tired we were some days because of all the traveling we did, but it never once
stopped us from going out to dinner, a bar or for a walk around the city.
Whenever we wanted to go somewhere, as long as it wasn’t across the city, we
walked and if we had not walked I don’t think I would have had the same opinion
of Paris. Yeah the street vendors can be kind of annoying sometimes and yes
there are a lot of homeless people, but once you look past the small things the
city and the people are magnificent. I could probably walk around Notre Dame
and the Louvre all day if I had the opportunity. When people notice you’re not
from Paris or even France for that matter they want to know what you’re doing
in the city. I talked to so many different people and really had some
incredible experiences just because I (hopefully) wasn’t walking around mean
mugging people all day. The most important thing I’ve learned from this trip is
to keep an open mind and don’t not talk to someone just because you’re
afraid/embarrassed/shy. Get out there and be out going and act like you want to
meet people because they want to meet you; and these people are like little
keys that open doors to a whole other world that I would have never experienced
without being a little outgoing and taking a chance on someone.
Don’t
listen to the stereotypes of other countries, they will only taint your view of
the world. You can never form an opinion of something unless you’ve actually
been there and done it. If I would have listened to everything I heard about
France I would have had an awful time; I had the time of my damn life on this
trip! People in other countries want to meet you and they want to hear about
your life, and believe me there are some incredible people out there.
Get out
an experience life, take a chance, be outgoing and get off the stupid internet.
If this
blog changes just one persons view of traveling it will have been a success.
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