The Time I Studied Abroad

The time I moved to London for my MA in September 2008 - which was the seventh time I'd been to England, if you can believe that - wasn't my first or even my second experience studying abroad.  Technically, the very first time I studied abroad was in 2001, the summer before my sophomore year of high school, when I did a month-long program in France.  (We spent three days in Paris, two weeks in St. Malo, went out on homestays near Rouen for a week, and then finished up with two days in Paris.)  The second time I studied abroad, though, was the first time I really made it count.

This very week in 2007, I flew to France to live and study in Paris with a group of Columbia undergrads for the spring semester (and then stayed for most of the summer).  It was a great experience, though hindsight is always rosy, and I learned a lot - about the French people and culture, about medieval history, about art and architecture and music, and, of course, about life and love.  Many of the kids on my program went to a different city in Europe every weekend, but I totally got into life in Paris.  I sang at the American Cathedral near the Champs Elysée, tutored half a dozen French children and two adults in English, and dated a British boy who was working there on his gap year.  Okay, those things aren't too Parisian - but I definitely put down roots.  And, because of that, it was the first time I truly experienced culture shock!

So, in honor of having moved to Paris for seven months six years ago, here are a few of my favorites from The Time I Studied Abroad.

WHEN EVERYONE POSTS PICTURES
OF THEIR THANKSGIVING FEASTS

WHEN I GET TO THE TOP OF
ANOTHER IMPORTANT TOWER

WHEN THE WAITER ASKS IF
WE'D LIKE WINE WITH OUR MEAL

WHEN I SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR THE FIRST TIME

WHEN MY FRIENDS AND I SEE A GROUP OF OBNOXIOUS AMERICAN GIRLS 

How about you, dear readers - did you study abroad?  Which of the .gifs made you nod and smile and say, "Yup, been there!"