Two weeks after my program ended and I am once again writing from Paris. However, I have not been here the full time, I was off traveling the continent.
Immediately after my program ended, I went up north to Normandy to stay on Gold Beach, one of the disembarkment beaches for D Day. I stayed in a very small town called Arromanches-les-Bains, which was rich in history and is home to the museum of disembarkment. The three days that I stayed there were spent relaxing and processing that my internship was over, as well as soaking in the history of the area.
After I left the Normandy area, I took a train down to Nantes in western France for one night. The sole purpose of this trip was so I could then get on my plane to Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona was my first destination where I was truly traveling alone. In Normandy, I was staying in an air bnb by myself. In Barcelona, I stayed in a hostel with other people. Although the air bnb might seem more “alone” it is more apparent that I am by myself when in a room full of people I do not know. In Barcelona, my favorite location was the gothic quarter. This section of this city is part of old town Barcelona, near the Cathedral of Barcelona. It is made up of small, winding streets with an abundance of shops and restaurants to explore. I spent hours walking this area and exploring every nook and cranny I could find. I also met some very good friends in the hostel, giving me a new perspective on traveling alone and people to share my experiences with.
After Barcelona, I flew over to Rome. Rome is a beautiful city that has a rich culture and incredible food, but one major downside to exploring the city in the summer is the heat. It was a glaring 100 degrees every day I was there, and the city itself seems to trap the heat, making it almost impossible to be outside between 11am and 3pm. Despite this, I did tour the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. The Colosseum itself is breathtaking and incredible to see in real life. It is easy to get sucked into the history of the area, thinking about thousands of people gathering to see gladiators and animal battles. It was truly one of the most incredible sights I have ever seen. While in Italy, I took a trip up the coast to Florence to see my fellow IIP in Paris friend Katherine. Together, we explored all the small city has to offer. From delicious foods to the leather market, Florence may seem small but it packs a cultural punch. The one day I spent there felt magical, as Il Duomo is incredibly beautiful and majestic. I then returned to Rome for my flight to Greece.
In Greece, I started my trip out in Santorini. I spent one night in Monolithos on the left side of the island, which was calm yet stunningly beautiful. The next day, I crossed the island to the capital city, Fira, to take a ferry to Naxos. The next three days were spent on the beach with the most crystal, sparkling water. Although I did not do much on this leg of my trip, it was an excellent way to wind down and prepare to go back to the United States
Now, I am back in Paris, the perfect place to reflect on the two months I spent here. This experience has truly been life altering. Personally, I have seen myself grow in ways I could have only imagined three months ago. The main changes I have seen in myself are my independence and my confidence in being on my own. Having an internship where I was the only one responsible for my work and my time forced me to self motivate and work hard. Being on my own most of the time helped me to build my confidence and independence, especially in public. Before my time in Paris and Europe, it was often hard for me to go places on my own and find determination within myself to do what needs to be done. During this experience, I really had no choice. Getting out of my comfort zone and putting myself out there built me into a more confident and independent person, even if it was scary at times.
Academically, I have gained so much knowledge in the French language that I hope to take the fluency test and accelerate my French minor. I have never felt so secure in the French language, where it almost feels native to speak it at times. Professionally, I have developed so many communication skills for the workplace. I learned how to manage my time and energy when having multiple projects, which I can take back to my class work at Pitt and my future careers. Overall, this program helped build me into a stronger person, personally, academically, and professionally. Finalement, au revoir.