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This past week I set off on my exciting journey to Aix-en-Provence in the South of France! There were lots of ups and downs that I encountered along the way, and I am sure many more to come. When traveling abroad, or really traveling at all, there are many unknowns that cause a bit of anxiety.

When I first arrived, due to a delayed plane, I missed my ride from the school. In that half hour, it also started to rain! I found a French couple waiting for a taxi and did my best to translate and ask for help. They were very kind people, but could unfortunately not help. With a dying phone and the help of the Dean of IAU, I was able to locate the bus station and be on my way. This was an unfortunate event, but travel is unpredictable. All we can do is take a deep breath and continue on. There is always a solution, some just have to be worked for!

About 2 hours into the trip, I was homesick. This continued for about 3 days. I was upset with myself, I had moved to Colorado by myself and started school this was basically the same thing. Why was I this sad so soon? I tried to have patience with myself but was ultimately failing. I called my mom, had a good cry, and have felt great ever since. I didn’t want to break down, sometimes it is better to let the inevitable happen versus pushing it off. Cultural shock is a continuous cycle and I have been told it will occur multiple times while abroad. It is one of the drawbacks of exploring another culture, but it shouldn’t be a deterrent. In order to understand others, we may be uncomfortable sometimes, and that is totally normal.

My university offers what is called the early start program which I am enrolled in. It has been an amazing decision that I definitely recommend! I have met so many nice people while also acclimating to the different time zones. This extra time helped me settle in at my homestay and meet the faculty beforehand.