Time has absolutely flown here in Marseille, and I can’t believe I’m already at the two-month mark. I know time is only going to speed up as the weather gets warmer which is crazy to think about. I’ve experienced so much since being here and I’ve come up with three main takeaways.

         My first takeaway is that culture shock is very real, and it affects everyone differently. Before leaving the US, I had been warned about culture shock and the ways it would impact my experience. Then soon after during my orientation week in France, I was again warned about culture shock and how it affects everyone in some way or another. We were even shown a graph that highlighted the 4 stages of culture shock. To be honest I didn’t think too much about these warnings at the time. I had already studied abroad last summer, and I was confident in my ability to seamlessly adapt to any new culture. Fast forward two months and I’m finally starting to understand. I find myself in what’s called the frustration stage. The stage where I get frustrated over minor inconveniences and start to feel a little homesick. It’s the little things like going to the grocery store or ordering at a restaurant. I find myself wishing I could just speak English again and avoid any chance of miscommunication. This stage has hit me especially hard because unlike other cities I could have studied abroad in like Florence or Paris, there are very few Americans in Marseille, especially during the winter. This makes me feel especially far from home. I’ve been thinking back to the lessons I learned during orientation, and I know when I make it to the next stage things will get much better.   

         My next takeaway is that this really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I have 5 months to live and grow and try new things in a completely foreign city in France! Who knows when or if I’ll ever be back in Europe. For the rest of this program, I plan to of course focus on my classes and absorb everything I can, but also take time to explore the city and take weekend trips to new places around the continent. 

         My third and final major takeaway is that the south of France is an amazing place. The vibe in Paris is so different from the vibe here. In the south, everything seems to be more relaxed which is something I’ve come to appreciate. It’s a nice change from the fast-paced environment I’m used to and will return to after this program.