As the airplane landed in London Heathrow Airport after the first leg of my flight home, I started to do what I've become accustomed to doing before every conversation: figure out how to say everything. As I tried to think of the words for layover and customs, I had a revelation: I had arrived in England, I could put my brain back on autopilot. At first, speaking English again felt like a luxury, it was so nice to just speak without having to struggle to remember vocabulary, or rephrase things in order to avoid the subjunctive tense. Now that I've been home a while, it's almost hard to believe that I was able to speak French for four months. I'm proud that I was able to get by without any major language barrier. After studying French for so long, it's nice to know that I can get by and have real conversations with French people. Now I'm just worried about losing it. I finished my minor, so I don't have any real reason to speak French. My family and most of my friends certainly don't speak it. But I've worked so hard to learn it, I'm going to try my best to remember it. My roommate and I have resolved to have weekly dinner next semester where we will just speak in French, so hopefully that will help.
Even though I do sometimes miss speaking French, I couldn't be happier to be home. Study abroad was an incredible experience, I got to meet new people, and travel to places that I might not have otherwise. I have made some great friends and I have tons of stories and memories that I will have forever. On this blog you saw all of the best memories: seeing Paris for the first time, vacations, and the best parts of Aix. Of course, all of those things were wonderful and valid. But there were also low moments, which I didn't blog about. By the end I was very homesick, not just for my family and friends, but for the routine of my regular life. My host family was very nice and welcoming, but of course, it wasn't my real home, and they weren't my real family.
In addition to the obvious travel and language-learning that I've gotten out of this experience, I've also gotten a new appreciation for my "real life". I really love being home for the summer, but I also love my school and most of all, my independence. I will always remember my time abroad, but perhaps more importantly, I will be a little more appreciative of my life in the states.
Even though I do sometimes miss speaking French, I couldn't be happier to be home. Study abroad was an incredible experience, I got to meet new people, and travel to places that I might not have otherwise. I have made some great friends and I have tons of stories and memories that I will have forever. On this blog you saw all of the best memories: seeing Paris for the first time, vacations, and the best parts of Aix. Of course, all of those things were wonderful and valid. But there were also low moments, which I didn't blog about. By the end I was very homesick, not just for my family and friends, but for the routine of my regular life. My host family was very nice and welcoming, but of course, it wasn't my real home, and they weren't my real family.
In addition to the obvious travel and language-learning that I've gotten out of this experience, I've also gotten a new appreciation for my "real life". I really love being home for the summer, but I also love my school and most of all, my independence. I will always remember my time abroad, but perhaps more importantly, I will be a little more appreciative of my life in the states.