"If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast" - E. Hemingway

Ever since I can remember I've dreamt of living in Europe and pushing myself to grow and learn in a culture different than my own. Probably because my parents taught me the importance of respecting cultures and values different than my own and allowing those experiences to change the person you are every day. I can undoubtedly say that my time in Paris not only taught me so much about myself but also innately changed the person I am forever and I will always carry that experience with me because Paris, as Ernest Hemingway says, is a "moveable feast."

*End of sappy rant* Sorry I had to, but I'm done I promise! As the first entry of my blog, I want to share everything about my study abroad experience! Although I personally knew I wanted to study abroad since high school and it was one of the factors that attracted me to NYU, I know not everyone feels as strongly about it. If you're on the fence about studying abroad or a little nervous about it, I hope this encourages you to challenge yourself!

One of the things that I believe made my experience so amazing was being able to speak the language. Once I had decided that I wanted to study abroad at the NYU Paris location I decided to switch from taking Chinese classes to French classes. I had been studying Chinese since my freshman year of high school but decided to switch gears to French because I knew it would help me while in Paris. In retrospect, I'm so glad I made that decision because knowing even the basics of the language of the country you live in makes you feel so much more comfortable. More importantly, it allowed me to have a better experience overall; it gave me the courage and ability to speak to the locals in their language and take the first steps in assimilating to the culture, which was my most paramount goal. Having only two semesters of French under my belt enriched my experience in so many ways and I believe that everyone should study the language of their study abroad site prior to going.

Another element that allowed me to familiarize myself with my new home was learning its history. I was lucky enough to take an NYU course on the French Revolution & Napoleon that required me to not only read about Paris' past in the French wars but to also go out and experience it for myself. Most of Paris' tourist sites today are either based or played roles in its historic past whether in the French Revolution or the Napoleonic Wars. By learning about the city’s past I was able to get a better understanding of the city and feel more connected to it.

Last but certainly not least is the importance of traveling while abroad. In most places people study abroad it is likely cheaper than the U.S (except for maybe the UK) to travel because of how close in proximity other countries are from one another. Traveling in Europe was super accessible either by plane or train and finding cheap Airbnbs/hotels. I'm not going to lie, traveling every weekend to a new country or city definitely takes its toll on the bank account but I know it was worth it to me and an amazing reason to save up. So, in the end, I was able to visit 4 cities (in addition to Paris) in France and 9 countries while I was abroad and it was honestly worth every penny!

Living in a foreign country and studying abroad while you're young and have a chance is a life-changing experience that pushes you and forces you to grow as a person. I think everyone should experience that at least once in their lifetime!

Recommendations:

Museums: The Louvre, The D'Orsay, Les Invalides (War), Pompidou (Modern), Rodin Museum, Orangerie (Monet), Cluny Museum, & Palais de Tokyo (Modern)

Parks: Place des Vosges, Jardin du Luxembourg, Tuileries Garden, Jardin des Plantes, Parc Monceau, Parc du Champ de Mars, & Palais Royale

Restaurants: Obermama, Cafe Oberkampf, Paperboy, Marlon, Loulou’s Friendly Diner, Cafe de Flore, Le Relais de l’entrecôte, Candelaria

Here are a few pictures of my life in Paris: