I’m back in the land of sun and surf after an amazing semester in Paris! Choosing to study abroad at Sciences Po was definitely one of the best decisions of my life. Living in a different country and speaking a different language was a little hard at first, but after a while it all felt natural. And, I’m proud that I was able to survive dealing with French bureaucracy, and in French at that! The lifestyle in Paris was completely different from the one I’m used to, having grown up in southern California, but living in Paris opened my eyes to new things in a way I never thought possible.
Studying at Sciences Po allowed me to experience something completely different from USC. I was able to experience so many fascinating events while in Paris – including the presidential election! (For an IR nerd, that’s a pretty big deal.)
I was also fortunate enough to travel during holidays and weekends. I was able to experience French life outside of Paris with friends as I visited their family homes. The cities I saw were incredible, although completely different from Paris! I also got to visit many other beautiful cities in Europe, and I started my summer off right with a dip in the Mediterranean!
And, after living in Paris for five months, I now officially take back ever saying I was cold while living in southern California!
In the end, I was sad to leave Paris, a city I have truly come to love. But, I am excited for new adventures to come this summer and next year, my last at USC!