I can't believe it. I am leaving to live in Paris for 4 months, in 6 days. It wasn't until tonight, as I was cramming my sundresses into SpaceBags, that I finally felt that this is real and this is happening, soon. It's a strange phenomenon, but when you talk and think about something so frequently, it loses weight and seems less real somehow.
But now, no avoiding it. So with my departure less than a week away, I want to list my goals and plans. This list will be on-going, but for now these are the things I want to do. I've received great advice from Ian, Alex, and Dr DeClair about studying abroad and about Paris and this is what I've come up with.
1. At any given moment, pay attention to where I am and what I am doing. Even if it's walking down the street or looking out of my window. Just look around and soak it in, every tiny little thing. I don't want to forget anything that happens on this trip.
2. Journal every day. I will blog as much as possible, but I also want a private journal where I can look back at this time of my life and know what I was thinking/feeling/seeing/learning. As DeClair said, "This is perhaps the most amazing period of your life -- ever -- you'll want to have some record of it."
3. Make a list of all of the sites I want to see. That might just be my next post.
4. Write home. Write friends. Write often. I want to avoid being on the phone with the US too often. I want to stay grounded in Paris and not forget why I’m there. My family and true friends will still be there when I return home.
5. Take pictures of everything. I’ve read a few things about photography in preparation and I’m excited to get out there and try new photo techniques and take some frame-worthy photos.
6. Connect with the people around me, especially my host family.
7. Commit to French. Avoid English with my classmates and everyone else.
8. Do some things, lots of things, that take me outside of my comfort zone. Learn something about myself I never could have found out by staying in Lynchburg.
