My other passion in life is traveling. I don’t know exactly when I caught the travel bug, but it could have been back when I was in high school taking French classes and yearning to go to France, home of my ancestors. I told myself that I would one day visit the land where they came from long ago…the 1600s to be exact or so I have been told that it was the 1600s. In the year 2000, my dreams of visiting France came true and I studied abroad during the summer in Annecy, France. In Annecy, I met some people that I love, love, love and we have become great friends over the years!!! It is hard keeping in touch with everyone that I met, but the wonderful phenomenon of Facebook has made that easier. There are some friends that I lost touch with, but over time I think we will be back in touch one way or another, because that is what travelers do. We meet people, become friends, keep in touch, lose touch and get back in touch when our paths cross again.
Annecy is a summer I will never forget. At first being abroad in a foreign country was a bit intimidating, especially when traveling to a foreign country for the first time all by myself. I was a little out of sorts, but by the second day I was over the intimidation and having a grand time!!! I lived with a wonderful and welcoming host family. I attended my French language classes (and no I’m not fluent in the language…I wish I was, but I forgot a lot of it and need to brush up on my French language skills), met new friends, shopped, ate, visited new places, went to Le Munich (a local bar) almost nightly, danced, drank wine and had a grand time!!! Aaaahhh to be young, in college and traveling…that was the life!!! I have no regrets and I’m so glad to have had the opportunity to do so…and for those of you who think I’m a spoiled brat whose parents sent her to France for summer…think again!!! I went to France on my own dime!!! I worked 2 jobs and saved every penny to be able to afford this opportunity of a lifetime…and every dime was well spent!!!
Studying abroad/traveling is one of the richest life lessons one can have and I encourage all to do so!!! Our world is a big place and there is so much to see and experience!!! Get out there and go see the world!!!
“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – Saint Augustine
Ahhhhh Man! Those were the days. I’m getting a little travel-sick just thinking about them! 🙂 THanks for the flash-back!