Category: Europe

A Re-Introduction and New Goals

Published on by Catherine BakerLeave a comment

After two weeks of holiday break, I was ready to return to Rennes, France and its cold and dark climate. I missed to cobblestone streets, the historical buildings, and canal that runs through the city. I also, funnily enough, missed my local Intermarché and regular cafe, Maison Bécam.

However, this semester, I need to make some changes to how I am navigating my next five months here in France. Not only do I need to do more in my social life, but I also need to be more academically challenged. The first thing I did was change my academic schedule and added two Thursday classes. However, in order to have some idea of how to change other parts of my life, I have made a few goals for myself to complete throughout the rest of my time.

  • Volunteer consistently
  • Run three times a week
  • Attend at least one workout class a week
  • Travel to Switzerland to meet up with an old friend
  • Cook more
  • Visit cities outside of France
  • Read at least 1 book every 2 weeks

This list is subject to change, however, I hope that these goals allow for me to stay grounded and will help me grow more than I did last semester. I know they aren’t lofty goals either, but I want them to remind me that I am able to stay stable in a new semester where everything has changed except for the city I am in.

Although I will miss my family at home and my friends who have all gone back to their universities, I am excited to meet new people, see new places, and experience new things. I hope that this semester is more exciting and fulfilling than the last.

Final Reflections

Published on by carolinepotterLeave a comment

As I sit on my couch in my new apartment in Denver, I can’t help but reminisce on my time in Florence. Just a month ago, I was beginning to study for my final exams and soaking up every “last” – last gelato, last walk along the river, last glass of Chianti wine. When I got home, I slipped right back into my routine and spent lots of time with my family celebrating the holidays. On the drive from Wisconsin to Denver, I wrote down some final scattered thoughts regarding my experience as a whole.

Initial Transition: Don’t try to force the same routine you had at home – you can keep some of the same elements that you previously had but allow for new experiences – they may be some of your favorites!

First Lessons: Just because you feel homesick, don’t solely look forward to going home. I definitely did this the first few weeks and regret it. You will have all sorts of feelings but being uncomfortable is a key component of growth!

Opportunity: I am typically a quiet person in class, but in Florence I wanted to be more engaged with the material I was learning, so I jumped in and spoke up more than I ever have! It helped me to gain confidence in the classroom that I have been able to translate into coming back to classes here at DU!

No FOMO: I am the self-proclaimed queen of FOMO. I have discussed this briefly before, but the abroad experience is so different from anything your friends back at home are doing, so just focus on yourself and all of the unique experiences you can have abroad!

Simple Things: My morning matcha, seeing the golden Tuscan sun hit the duomo on my walk home from class, the street performers playing music are all little parts of my day that really brought me joy and I didn’t realize how much I would miss. It truly is the little things in life.

Leaving Florence: Many of my friends were so sad to have to leave Florence, and although I was sad, I was very excited to go home. I think that although it is sad that your life will go back to “normal”, I always look forward to the good – seeing my friends at DU, getting to eat at some of my favorite local spots, and one of the most important to me: seeing my sister and dog when I got home!

I have thoroughly enjoyed writing these posts as a way of reflecting on my abroad experience, and I will repeat what I told everyone that inevitably asked about abroad when I went home “Florence was the best – it’s so hard to describe with words how amazing it was”.

Arrivederci,

Caroline