there are no words to describe the bittersweet feeling of being home. it's even weird saying that word, because Paris became home and having to leave it behind was beyond difficult, still is. i've been in atlanta for a week now, and have finally found the time to write my "sentimental farewell" to the city that stole my heart.
if you haven't been to paris yet, then go. figure out a way to get there and GO. it's so rich in history-you feel it as you're walking along the cobblestone streets and looking at haussman's impeccable architecture. it's a city that ignites each and every sense. the smells are both exquisite and repulsive, from the fresh baked bread and blossoming tulips, to the hobos covered in their own pee in the metro, your nose is always itching. there's so much to see- my eyes were always tired at the end of everyday because of how often they wandered. walking along the seine with the wind whipping your hair around, sitting in a cafe watching people go by while simultaneously inhaling everyone's second-hand smoke, kicking pigeons out of your way, yelling "putain" when the metro is having problems- it's all a part of the parisian experience, an experience i will never be able to sum up in words.
there were huge lessons to be learned while i was abroad. lessons of independence, maturity, and discipline. while i haven't mastered any of these, living alone in a big city brought to light what needed work. i've made improvements ;)
with the improvements in character came improvements in french. another bonus. being back in atlanta, i miss speaking and hearing a foreign language. my brain never turned off...ok thats a lie, but it definitely worked harder in paris. always working on translating things, reading in french, writing in french, the immersion was phenomenal and helped me tremendously. and though school got aggravating at times, im incredibly lucky to have been able to study at one so prestigious.
the family i lived with was amazing. giving and warm, and always interested in what i had going on in life. i got so lucky, not only with the mom but with the kids as well. i'll miss our rowdy dinners and ping pong tournaments.
i miss the everyday things about paris. my daily croissant at the bakery on rue st jacques, the man who sits outside my school playing a recorder as though its a flute, lunch at cosi, wine at mabillon, the everyday routine i got into that i'll never quite get to relive.
the thing that i miss most about paris, however, are the people i met while i was there. the most outrageous, goofy, spirited, adventurous souls i've ever met.
i met amanda at a rave, because you know, i dabbled in the rave scene whilst abroad. it's funny though because after we met, we realized we had connections through affiliation with a church and knew a lot of the same people. small world. we founded a friendship based on music, and hookah, but it continuously grew and i became incredibly close with this girl. i was able to meet some of her SUPER COOL friends, and will always remember (or try to remember) the all nighters we pulled together. to my trance fam, you all are amazing. mikey, jen, thibaut, camille, fadila, christina, seb, and last but not least amanda, i'm so glad i met you all and the insane nights we had are ones for the book.
when you're abroad and you hear another person speaking in english, you immediately become best friends. on my way to amsterdam, i met a girl... who knew another girl... looking for a potential roommate. since this was during the time i was trying to get out of my original homestay, i decided to be a creepy facebook stalker and add Leland, in hopes I'd be able to move into her apartment. after the stalking, i found out she was a fellow chi omega, so naturally we got along great. through leland, came mackenize and punya-two gems. we did it all. from clubs, to raves, to the catacombs, to indian food, to roadtrips, and bike rides in monet's garden, i had a blast with each of them and am so grateful to have a sister and new friend in virginia :)
i met a boy; in the metro of all places (on valentine's day). he was on his way to a party and i to a riverboat cruise with my breeny. the facebook stalking came in handy yet again as i added him on fb and we started chatting. chatting turned into a pub crawl, which turned into a trip to Belgium for Sensation, and from there we continued to get to know one another. the thing that's so great about this boy, is that we became such good friends. i enjoy his company and am grateful he puts up with how weird i am. another crazy example of how small the world is...he lives in south carolina, though our schools are rivals. he's a cock, and i a majestic tiger, but we'll see what happens. he's a good one.
though the rivalry is strong, we were able to put all hatred aside for the most part as i became friends with quite a few gamecocks. we partied together until the sun came up, we drank wine and watched the eiffel tower sparkle, we then CLIMBED the eiffel tower, ate yummy food, sat in the tuilleries and people watched, and all joined Vine on the same night. will, lexa, richard, and lee, i'm so glad i got to know you all and can't wait for reunions in the fall (that rhymed).
while i've known my lil bird for ages, i became so close to my friend obi while living in france together. our cosi dates were epic, and the talks we had together are some of my best talks yet. thank you for making me laugh and building me up on days when it was needed. i love you and can't wait for the next city we will take on together.
last but most definitely not least is andie. the most unexpected, and most cherished of friendships i found while abroad. i knew i'd make friends, but i didn't expect to make a best friend who would have such a huge impact on my life in such a short amount of time. our days were filled with laughter, singing, dancing, metro fart, odedick, mabillon, macarons, starbucks, gossip, and instagram, but we were also able to just enjoy the silence together- to watch people, and to spend time in thought. we were able to be open with one another about our biggest and littlest problems and fears, our dreams and our goals, and we connected as though we'd known one another our whole lives. i feel so lucky that i met her when i did, and besides the city itself, she's what i miss most.
paris was life changing. i was challenged and pushed to think deeper, to let go of insignificant things in my life, and to live fully and freely. i cannot say thank you enough to my parents for giving me this opportunity. they have supported me in every way and i am forever thankful for their consistent generosity and love. they're the best.
i don't know the next time i'll be back, and that kills, but i do know that no matter the distance or the time between (and forgive me for sounding so corny), paris will be carried with me wherever i go. until i see you again paris, vous avez mon coeur.
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