Written by: Emily Wieder

At the crack of dawn Dec. 20, 2017, I took a final jog around Aix-en-Provence. Ten hours later, I slid onto my favorite park bench to watch the sun set. The day symbolized my evolution during the semester, from my dim beginnings to thoughts that flowed more easily in French than in English. Thankfully, my major required me to return to France in January.

With Strasbourg being bigger than Aix, adjusting to urbanism posed more frustrations than engaging in a foreign language. Plus, my helplessness the first day scared me more than it should have.

After getting off at the wrong bus stop, I launched a desperate phone call to the program director who guided me to class. “Aix was never this difficult,” I kept thinking. “Aix was never this cold,” but Aix is not Strasbourg– just like I am not my twin, and we each have our own merits that make comparison impractical.

With that recognition, I started thriving. Instead of lamenting about my mistakes, I focused on new discoveries.

So my internship supervisor laughed at my pronunciation of gestion (management) that resembled “gestation” (gestation, like in English), but I benefitted from a linguistics lesson that day.

Likewise, by confusing two alleyways one afternoon, I found my favorite picnic spot along the river.

Eight months in France have awarded me an intellectual bounty. Even though I would like to share this experience with my family, some memories just need to be personal. When I smile at the mention of storks, just know I am musing over les cigognes who fearlessly occupy the Park de l’Orangerie.

Certain pleasures can only be lived and living requires exploration. As one professor often says, “get off the compound.”

Written by: Claire Weckerly

I have been studying abroad in London for the last five months, and I’ve become somewhat of a wanderer. It all started one Sunday morning only a few weeks after I arrived when I got on a bus. I can’t really describe it, but I got the sudden urge to just get on a bus. So I waited for the first bus to come by (one that I hadn’t ever ridden before), and I got on. Just like that.

As I rode, I told myself that I’d just hop off at any stop that looked interesting. However, I lost myself as I people-watched and took in the scenery. Thus, I ended up staying on the bus until the very last stop. When I got off, I was I bit nervous about having to improvise my way home, but I found the challenge exciting as well. This is what studying abroad was all about; I had broken out of the “tourist” way of doing things and was having an authentic experience while exploring new parts of the city.

After that, I was hooked. Some days I had a stop in mind; some days I just got on whatever bus or train came first. Some days I brought a book or headphones with me, and others I was just content to sit and ride.

I knew that going out on my own, both around London and internationally, was a good thing, but it wasn’t until recently that I realized how much I’ve benefitted from it. Not only did I get to see and do things that I may have missed out on, but I got to know the city better as a whole. Additionally, independent travel has helped me feel more confident and free.

Personally, I really think that some of the trips I’ve taken alone have been the most rewarding part of my study abroad experience, and I’ll always be grateful for that one sunny day that I decided to jump on the bus.