As I begin my eight hour flight back to America, I decided that there was no better way to kill time than to complete my final blog post entry! With all of this time ahead of me, I have had the chance to reflect on my time abroad and everything that I have experienced in the past two months in Paris.
One of my most memorable nights took place in a club downtown where I met two graduate students from the University of Florida. We immediately hit it off, and together we conquered the venue and spent the evening striking up conversations and connectioning with the Parisians around us. The highlight of the evening was when I found myself in a dance circle surrounded by students from the University of Paris. A Pitbull song came on, and I quickly realized that while everyone knew the chorus, I was the only one who knew any of the other verses! As the music played, I passionately sang along while the locals cheered me on. Ironically the next song was in French, and suddenly our roles reversed. As I danced in the center of the circle, the rest of the group sang every word to me at the top of their lungs. It was a moment that felt surreal and was a perfect representation of cultural exchange and shared laughter that built this unexpected connection between us that I will never forget.
As I reflect on what I have learned on an academic level, I have attained a new perspective given this immersive experience. Working at a non-profit completely in French has allowed me to achieve fluency in the language while learning new techniques on how to collaboratively address complex social issues. Through my role at Fondation Scelles, I have deepened my understanding of the legislation in place regarding prostitution and human trafficking, and I have learned numerous intervention strategies from conducting interviews with policy experts and anti-trafficking coordinators around the world.
I am so grateful to have had this opportunity to be able to intern at a non-profit that is dedicated to combatting sexual exploitation, and it has truly sparked a passion inside me. I would not be here without the support of the University of Pittsburgh, the Frederick Honors College, the Martinson Elevate Award, and the endless support from my family. I am also so appreciative of my coworkers and my boss, as they have shown me what it is like to work in a professional environment overseas, and have connected me to various other NGOs, as well as policy makers, which will serve as beneficial connections down the line.
This experience has without a doubt changed me and has influenced how I think about my own lifestyle, as well as what my future holds. I feel more confident than ever, and am eager to explore what else the world has to offer for me.
For any future Frederick Honors College students considering this program, my biggest piece of advice would be to take every opportunity you get. I encourage you to step outside of your comfort zone and explore new things, whether that be striking up conversations with people or exploring new neighborhoods. Your time abroad will go incredibly quickly, and it is so important that you take advantage of everything your country has to offer. This means approaching each day with curiosity and having an open mind in order to get the most out of your experience.
The longer I spend here, the more I understand that it is okay to not have everything planned out. Before coming here, I was so worried about adapting to the culture and having to see everything at once, that I forgot what the real Parisian lifestyle is all about: living in the moment. One of the best parts about the study abroad experience is learning as you go and having the ability to learn new things when you least expect it. There is so much to do in Paris, and even just by walking down the street I guarantee that you will find something to do. You don’t need to have every day planned out, and honestly some of my best experiences here came from unplanned situations.
Paris will always hold a special place in my heart, and having this experience has meant so much to me. Even though this study abroad has come to an end, the knowledge I have gained will forever remain with me, and I will carry on the memories I have made here.
