I have been having a lot of fun in my summer study abroad program in France. I knew I would be okay once I got over the hurdle of starting the trip. There will never be a time in my life that nerves will never overwhelm me when trying new things. Leaving home was hard for me, but having experienced time away at school made it easier for my transition. For this adventure, I had to get on a plane for the first time. While the plane ride scared me, the things I tended to focus on was if I could navigate the airport. Instead of the fun I would inevitably have, I focused on the friends I might not make, therefore expecting a quiet, lonely trip. There were so many questions and anxieties that didn’t need to exist. I figured out how to navigate the airport, I found good friends, I’ve been to so many places in France so far, and I still have time left on the trip. No amount of encouragement could truly reassure me that I would be ok on this trip, I just had to go through it. My fear made me prepared for many situations. Things that I combed through millions of times in my head sometimes appeared in front of me. But most didn’t. I’m still here. I have put myself out there so far and I don’t know if I could truly go back to being who I was before. I try to take in everyday and everything. I have a very short time here, but it’s perfect for me, though I know that I’ll miss this space in time. Making close bonds this quickly has never been a skill of mine, but the people I met have made my trip a million times better.
