Bonjour!

It’s still absolutely strange to think that I’ve been living in another country for almost two months. I’ve become almost completely comfortable here in Paris, and I’m really enjoying my time in France and in some other countries. There’s so much to see and do here that there’s never really a dull moment.

Recently, I was able to visit the French Riviera and Monaco with my program. Nice was extraordinarily beautiful – so old and so new at the same time. We spent part of our time there exploring the old town and relaxing on one of the many pebble beaches of the Mediterranean. Monaco was also really beautiful. It’s one of the smallest countries in the world, and we walked through most of it! I did manage to get lost, as per usual.

I’ve also been lucky enough to visit two cities in Spain: Barcelona and Madrid. Both were so interesting, but I think Barcelona was my favorite of the two. I visited Parc Güell and the basilica Sagrada Familia, both designed by Gaudi. They showcased some of the most impressive architecture I’ve ever seen – and Sagrada Familia isn’t even finished being built yet! It’s supposed to finally be completed in 2026, a full century after the architect died.

Being able to see so much in Europe is one of the best things about studying abroad. It’s easy and relatively inexpensive to visit a bunch of different countries on the weekends. I’ve got plans to visit England, Scotland and the Netherlands in the next few weeks.

Studying abroad definitely opens up many opportunities that you just can’t find in America. And your major doesn’t even really matter. I’ve met people from the U.S. who are studying a lot of different things. If you can, take the chance to immerse yourself in another culture during your time in college. It’ll truly change your life.

Read about Sarah’s other adventures in France here.