It’s hard to believe it’s already been over two months since I arrived in Paris. I started writing to you during my very first week here, so you have truly been with me since the beginning. In France, the way to say farewell is au revoir. I prefer this much more than our “goodbye” because the phrase means “until we see each other again.” That, to me, feels like a more appropriate and optimistic way of parting!
I have learned a lot from living on my own in France. At first, I felt out of my element because everything was new and different from what I was used to. Finding housing, using public transportation, buying groceries—everything was much harder because of the new language, even the most basic things. But by pushing through, two months later, I became much more comfortable going through life here. And looking back, all of it has been wonderful: the old buildings in this ancient city, the unusual-looking ginkgo trees, the tasty pastries in the boulangeries (bakeries) and more. Despite the challenges, this experience has been one of the best of my life.
I still have another six months in Paris, so I am sure I will learn a lot more. I hope I have inspired you to do your own traveling when you are older.
