When I was in high school I wasn’t annoyed by summer reading, it was probably my favorite homework assignment of the entire school year. I always read the book from cover to cover even if I didn’t like the book. My required reading introduced me to some great classics and created interesting discussions once everyone was back in the classroom. I was usually in the minority of people who liked the book (and actually read all of it)—yes, even Fahrenheit 451. Aside from my summer reading, I always read a bunch of other books and this hasn’t stopped since I’ve graduated. Here are some of the books I have been enjoying this summer, some of them are new and some are favorites that deserve to be re-read. Continue reading
paris
3 Ways to Reminisce about Your Study Abroad Experience
So it’s been about a month and a half since I have been back and I’m still not over my gap year (did I really live in Paris?). Every time I see something about Paris on my Twitter feed or look at old photos my heart sighs. I thought I would share some ways I keep my experience frais (fresh). Continue reading
5 Lessons I Learned During My Gap Year
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.
Urban Survival Kit (aka What’s in My Bag?)
I always like to be prepared for any situation that arises, but this can be problematic as it’s hard to fit everything “for any situation” into a bag that doesn’t weigh 20 pounds. Living in a city for the past few months has caused me to whittle down to the absolute essentials, but still be ready for the unexpected. Below I’m going to share what I carry in my bag every day for my everyday life (i.e. school, days out, day trips, etc.).
3 Unconventional Views of the Eiffel Tower
Oh La Tour Eiffel, an instant reminder that you are in Paris. It’s probably one of the most photographed monuments in the world, and anyone who has been to Paris has a picture of it on their Instagram to prove it. And while there is nothing like a picture of the Tower from a distance either from the Champ de Mars or Trocadero side, some of my favorite views of the Tower create views and pictures from a different angle.
Internet-ional: Navigate Paris from Your Phone
Guide books are a great resource for exploring a city, but we’re in the 21st century: ditch the paper and go digital. Below find Instagram and Twitter accounts, along with some apps, to help you discover the best that Paris has to offer from places to language tips to how French speakers see the world.
Joie de Vivre: Semester 1 Summary
If someone had told me this time last year that I would be writing a summary after spending three months studying abroad in Paris, I would have laughed. However, the joke is on me because that’s what I’m doing. I’m so lucky that I was able to make my dream into a reality and my first semester in Paris was incroyable. Continue reading
3 Things to Do When You’re Missing Home
As the end of the semester quickly approaches, you may find yourself thinking a lot of things: how quickly the time passed, how you wish you could stay longer, and how excited you are to return home. I’m torn between not wanting to leave and being super excited to see all my friends and family again. There are times when you miss those everyday things you are used to back home. Here are three things I do when I want a bit of home in Paris.
Find something to read in your first language – While I’m all about reading in French, it’s nice to curl up in bed with a great read (especially on a cold, rainy day). Reading in English, makes me feel closer to home as it reminds of the countless days I spent reading a new favorite. If you’re more into physical books, try Shakespeare and Company (Metro: St. Michel or Cluny-La Sorbonne), which is an English bookseller that stocks both new and classics in a variety of genres. But don’t forget about e-books or audiobooks, which are nice options for long journeys.
Eat some comfort food – If you enjoy cooking, making your favorite dish is a great way to feel connected to home. A fun thing to do is invite friends over and have a potluck, where everyone shares their favorite meals. This is especially nice as it gets closer to the holidays as you might not be with family, and it’s nice to celebrate with a group of people. If you’re like me and prefer going to restaurants, find one that serves similar food as your hometown. I recently went with a friend to Breakfast in America, which is an American-style diner in Paris; the food was so delicious, I forgot how much I loved pancakes!
Also, since I have not yet gone to a Caribbean restaurant in Paris, it’s also nice to eat similarly in restaurants as I do back home. I really love Italian food, and there are some really great Italian places where I’m from, and I had been craving a particular restaurant’s spaghetti bolognese. Luckily, when I was in Lyon, I found this really great Italian place and enjoyed a delicious spaghetti bolognese. 
Watch something familiar – Back home, I use to go to the cinema with friends at least every other weekend. Luckily, most of the movies I would want to watch are shown here in France in the original version with French subtitles. It’s nice because for two hours I could be anywhere in the world, watching a good movie with good friends. Use allocine.fr to find movies that are currently showing, showtimes and theatre locations.
Fall/Winter Favorites
- Knee high boots: I wear mine basically everyday, they are just the perfect addition to any outfit. They can dress-up or dress-down a look, if I’m feeling lazy and just end up wearing a basic long sleeves with jeans, my black knee high boots make me feel just a little bit more chic. Mine were $40 from Target and I love ’em.
- Pullover: Adds another layer of warmth to any outfit. I’m not just talking about temperature-wise, on a really dreary day, pulling on my Wildfox ‘Oui’ pullover adds a smile to my face.
- Scarf: You should never underestimate the power of a scarf. Similar to the power of a pullover, it adds warmth, while also adding a pop of color to an outfit. I am a big fan of large scarves because you can tie them in a bunch of different ways or use them as blanket in a pinch. Zara has some great, affordable options.
- Gloves: I only started to need them recently, but I’m really glad I have a pair (or two!). I’m a big fan of the gloves that can switch from being fingerless or a full mitten. An Instagram-worthy snap can come and go so quickly, so your fingers should always be ready. The pair I’m currently wearing I bought when I was in Oxford at Fatface.
- Jacket: Obviously, a necessity during this time of the year. However, not all jackets are made equally. The ideal jacket keeps you warm without making you look like a marshmallow. Enter this amazing jacket from Uniqlo: not only does it come in a number of colors, it can also be rolled down to fit in a pouch and is water resistant.
One of my favorite outfits using three out of the five items mentioned above. || Scarf: Promod/Pullover: Wildfox/Skirt: H&M/Tights: Forever 21/Boots: Target/Bag: Volcom
Tips for Studying a Foreign Language
Bonjour! When you study abroad you might find yourself in a country where English is not the first language, but this shouldn’t send you into a panic: discover some of the tips I use everyday while studying abroad in Paris here. Bonne chance!
hannah says/thinks/feels 