Farewell Strasbourg

Since going to Strasbourg, I have learned so much more about both Europe and myself. I had many hesitations before deciding to join this program. For example, I was extremely scared to leave my family and friends behind, and even more scared to be thrown into such a foreign environment. The idea of just going to a city I had never been before, with a group of people I had only met once terrified me. However, amongst the fear and anxiety was a load of curiosity and adventure for a journey I knew would change my life, and that is exactly what this program has done for me. I know that may sound rather cheesy and ambitious to say, but it is the truth. This program has taught me how to have a lot more understanding and acceptance for different cultures and different people. Being in a foreign country enables you to experience life as an outsider and forces you to be outgoing whether it is comfortable for you or not. Prior to going to Strasbourg, I found new situations dreadful. When it came to meeting new people, I was always shy and rather introverted. I found myself very comfortable with the small group of friends I had back home and had no intentions of branching outside. However, living in France has encouraged me to become more open to new people, places and things that in turn have definitely broadened my outlook on life. It has taught me to be more trusting towards people I do not know. I know when I return to Atlanta I will try to be that person that goes out of their way to show the lost visitor the way to the grocery store, despite their broken English, as so many French strangers were patient enough to do with me. Currently, I am traveling around Europe with one of the girls that I became friends with over the course of the semester. I never thought I would be on an adventure this crazy, I always thought I would be too scared to follow my dreams to travel. But here I am now finishing this blog outside a café in Corfu, Greece with a friend that now feels like a sister to me and it is all because I decided to just get on a plane to another country, despite all the fears in my head telling me to turn around. This program has taught me to be strong and that it is ok to follow your dreams no matter how scared you may feel, you never know what kind of a journey it will take you on.

-Kate Bryan