It has been two weeks since I got back from spending seven months in Paris and it honestly it feels like it was a dream. The time went by so quickly (side note: a valuable lesson I learned is that time passes quickly, so you should make the most of every second) and it seems impossible that I am coming home for the summer when it feels like yesterday I was waving to my family from the door of my of host family’s apartment. Taking a gap year was easily one of my top five experiences and I encourage anyone who has the opportunity to take one. Aside from the learning I was doing in the courses I was taking, living in Paris was its own education. After reflecting, these are the five lessons I learned from my gap year, which I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

The world is both big and small: Despite the fact that I had to travel across an ocean to get to Paris, there was a familiarity to it. There were some aspects of culture in Paris that were similar to my own, but it was the people who helped me realize that humans share more similarities than differences. It’s very cliché, but smiling and laughter is universal: often I would hear someone laughing and be unsure of what language they spoke. However, the sense of humor is something that is rooted deep in a culture, I’m not saying humor cannot be universal, but there are some jokes I just can’t understand because I didn’t grow up in Paris. It doesn’t mean I didn’t try to understand and I think that is what is important, the world is a big place filled with different cultures and perspectives and it’s necessary to be open to trying to understand these differences.

I am adaptable and can depend on myself: It’s hard to imagine what living in a country I never visited, didn’t really speak the language, and knew no one would be like. It’s 23 percent daunting, but 77 percent exciting and one month in it was 99 percent thrilling. Once I got the hang of the metro, learned a few key phrases, I could go anywhere and that’s an amazing feeling. I went to the movies by myself, out to eat on my own, and just wandered. By the end of my semester, I didn’t feel like a tourist, but wasn’t quite a local, which is the best because I still felt appreciative of the little things; for example, catching a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower or enjoying a baguette for 1 euro. I also travelled by myself a few times and had to figure out how to navigate in the city. It’s only intimidating if you let it be: stay calm, keep an open mind, do research beforehand, have an international phone plan, and don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself.

It’s only intimidating if you let it be: stay calm, keep an open mind, do research beforehand, have an international phone plan, and don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself.

Learning another language is important: You might have hated your Spanish class in high school, but don’t immediately forget all your Spanish once you graduate. There are tons of statistics about how learning another improves your brain, not to mention there are career benefits. I personally think it’s a cool skill to have and helped me realize how different the world is when you don’t speak English. For example, how much of the Internet is English, but what else is out there once you’re able to read another language. My Instagram feed has greatly improved from following several French accounts. (I did a past post on my favorite social media accounts for navigating Paris, which are often written in both French and English). Also, learning the language is a great way to gain a deeper understanding of the culture from learning idioms, specific phrases, jokes, and slang.

The Internet is great, but real life is better: I know this obvious, but sometimes you just need to be reminded. In Paris, there was so much to explore and do, even if it was just eating my lunch and reading in the park (and occasionally scrolling through my Instagram feed, but life is about compromise). Some weekends I really just wanted to stare at some art and some of the best art in the world was just a 15 minute metro ride away. The hardest part is putting down your phone or shutting your laptop, but it’s completely worth it. Plus how else are you going to get photos like this if you don’t leave your room. Spending time abroad made me conscious of how much time I spend in front of a screen and what I could be missing. I’m going to try to maintain this consciousness and always be on the lookout for something to explore, even if it’s just my backyard.

The hardest part is putting down your phone or shutting your laptop, but it’s completely worth it. Plus how else are you going to get photos like this if you don’t leave your room.

I love my hometown: And of course being away from home for a long time helped me realize how great my hometown is. I know now that anywhere can feel like ‘home’, but a big part of it comes down to the people who surround you and nothing beats family. It’s nice to go somewhere and see a friendly, familiar face. Also, knowing a place like the back of your hand is a comforting feeling. Plus there’s the beach, the warmth, and the laid back island lifestyle. How lucky I am was reinforced after talking with my host family about things that were ordinary for me, like swimming with turtles, but amazing to them.

I did learn more than five lessons while studying abroad, but these are the big, overarching themes that will stay with me. Studying abroad in Paris was a wonderful experience, it was something I had dreamed about and that I was able to make it a reality is remarkable. There is a lesson in making this dream real: if you work hard and plan you can make even your biggest dreams come true. To Paris I want to say merci for being an amazing place for discovery: the city, the people and my self. A bientôt et merci mille fois.