As I peered through the plane window at the tiny houses scattered across the distant terrain, it hit me. I was actually in France. The voyage that I had dreamed of since kindergarten was finally becoming a reality; I was about to hop off the plane, say “bonjour” to the world, and begin my study abroad session. During my time in France, I not only saw my language skills improve dramatically, but I encountered friendly strangers, experienced the French culture, and visited more beautiful places than I realized the earth could behold. I had the time of my life during those five weeks across the Atlantic. The experience also deeply impacted me, as it produced a number of valuable insights that will forever influence my perspective.
1. First of all, the French stereotype of rude and aloof is simply not true for the nation at large.
The French, as a whole, are not a snobbish people. My host family showed nothing but kindness and generosity to me, and my various encounters with random French citizens proved that the country was filled with genuinely kind-hearted people. They do take pride in their language, so they might not be thrilled with a tourist completely unable to speak French. However, an effort to speak French out of respect for the country will be met with much appreciation. In reality, some snobby behavior occurs everywhere, but after conversing with many French people myself, I consider them to be very helpful and understanding.
2. Going to France was very humbling.
Historically, the United States is merely an infant compared to the nation of France. I think as Americans we often forget that the world existed for many, many centuries without the U.S. France has a rich culture that has developed throughout the course of time, and the country is abundant in magnificent architecture that reflects its longstanding heritage. France’s surface area on the globe might be smaller than that of the United States, but we cannot come close to the depth of its history. It was astonishing to be constantly surrounded by marvelous structures that were built long before my country was even founded.
3. After studying abroad, I have compassion for foreigners attempting to speak English in America.
I know what it’s like to have to work hard just to express an idea, let alone worry about the grammar of the sentence and the accent of the words. We should have patience with foreigners and speak slower if they are having trouble understanding. Communicating in a foreign language is a difficult task, especially at first, so the least we can do is demonstrate patience and kindness.
4. The French are hard workers, yet they truly savor their time off.
I think as Americans we could learn something from this. France is filled with luscious gardens and beautiful parks so that people can pause during the day to appreciate the beauty of nature, talk with friends, or simply ponder. Also, the French sit and linger at cafés, just taking in the moment instead of worrying about everything that needs to be done. It’s a slower pace of life, without the constant hurry. At home, they sip their tea and chat after dinner rather than rushing to get the dishes in the dishwasher and moving on to the next thing. In America, we tend to fill our lives with constant activities, but perhaps a schedule with more empty space fills life with more contentment. It seems to work well for the French.
5. Studying abroad has changed my perspective on what a real problem is.
I realized that the so-called “problems” I had faced before going abroad were only minor occurrences. Being locked out of your house at 12:30 a.m. in a not-too-safe neighborhood of a foreign country, now that’s a bit of a legitimate problem. (Yes, this happened to me, but thank goodness for cell phones and an extremely forgiving host dad.) Yet even that situation was manageable. The real problems are things like homelessness and poverty, not to mention the war on terror, things that typically don’t cross our minds as we go through our daily lives as privileged American citizens. However, when you’re walking past dozens of homeless people each day, and a horrific terrorist attack occurs a few hours away, you realize how much we take for granted. Even on our worst days we are incredibly blessed, and each day is truly a gift. After studying abroad, I realize how fortunate I have been, and I’m aware that the United States is not the only country on this planet. I feel a responsibility to help those in need, both in my own country and across the globe.
As a final thought, if you are considering the possibility of studying abroad, I highly encourage you to seize the opportunity. I’m not saying it will be easy, but college is the time to break through the comfort zone and discover what lies beyond us. It will challenge you. It will change the way you look at the world. And above all, it will enrich your life in a way that nothing else can.
