The time has come for me to leave this lovely dreamland and head back to reality...I just finished packing up all my stuff and will head off bright and early to start the trek back to the States. I cannot believe that I'll be home tomorrow...it's crazy! (However, after 24 hrs of straight traveling it will be more like day after tomorrow...) I've loved my time here but at the same time, I'm ready to go back. The constantly crowded streets of Aix filled with swarming tourists are good encouragers to leave, but it's still very bittersweet... I laugh at myself for saying this but I really miss my school/science classes, having a job and being productive...however I have been so grateful for this petit pause :)
Anyway, the last few weeks in Aix were awesome. I spent time with friends and it felt like somehow I grew closer to people than I had been before so it's a bummer that everything clicked into place right before leaving. Regardless, I am so lucky to have made such great friends with people from all over the US and I cannot wait to make trips to see them all. If this experience has taught me one thing, it's to abandon all judgements. I've become close friends with people who come from backgrounds that could not be more different than mine and we've had some great adventures. I've learned about different college campuses, religions, and cuisines- Who would've ever imagined I'd be eating homemade Louisiana jambalaya in France?
I don't want to get all sentimental as I feel like that's all that's been going on the last few days with everyone leaving, however, I just wanted to say thanks to all of you who have been reading this and supporting me along the way. It really means a lot and all the support really made this experience so much easier and life changing than I ever would've imagined. I hope my blog has sparked a little travel inspiration in you because I know that now it will continue to be a huge part of my life. Experiencing different cultures and opening our eyes to the rest of the world is so important and I don't think there's anything who cannot benefit. It was a great little sector of my college education :)
Thanks again, and for those of you in California...A BIENTOT!
(These signs point to the pool, parc, and track where I went to one of the three daily. A little routine that I'll miss...)
A trip out to St. Remy where several of Van Gogh's paintings were inspired...unfortunate weather but everything was so lush and in bloom it was beautiful...
