Traveling to France-- In A Nutshell

I can certainly say that my opportunity to spend three weeks in France this summer has been one of the biggest blessings of my life! For a girl who's never been on a plane, who's never traveled by herself, flying to France all alone was a big step. It not only showed me that there's a world out there that I don't know, but also that I can go and do things for myself, like an adult would. That alone is a lot to take in! Obviously, there's no reason to write about everywhere I visited, because it's easy to find out about different places in the world by searching online. Besides, this isn't THAT kind of blog. But the overall feel of France is something to be considered. My slight knowledge of the language helped me just a teeny bit during this trip, but for the most part, I owe it all to my French exchange partner. She was kind and open, and still is, now that she's come back to the states with me. She made me feel comfortable in every situation, and I found I could have the same quiet understanding that is common between old friends, where you don't always have to be talking to keep the atmosphere friendly. France itself is overwhelming with the massive historical elements that are evident everyday. The oldness of the buildings, and the certain traditions still held in value, make every idea that I had imagined of a quaint countryside come alive. My favorite place was Mont St. Michel, simply because of what it represented and the history behind it all.

Also the fact that it kind of reminded me of Hogwarts was cool to think about. Sure, I liked all the luxury of France and, namely, Paris. It was all very impressive. But the difference is, that luxury can be observed, but the ancient buildings were built for everyone, and that's what I'll be remembering for the rest of my life. I also liked learning about the different customs there, and finding out that French people are not as snobby and rude as we have been believing. But now, I've made one of my dreams come true, and I'll never forget it. One of the most beautiful countries on the planet, and it's mine now that I've seen it! Isn't that a wonderful thought?