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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.
DU Abroad 