Most people believe that study abroad is just a way to skip the hard school work and relax. It’s the common expectation you know. You just want to be able to travel, and meet new people, learn about new cultures. You create this idea in your mind that it will all be easier because it is in a foreign country, well I’m sorry to burst your bubble but it’s not. Here is work, a lot of work. Essays, projects, test, quizzes, they all exist in study abroad in the same way that they exist at Rollins, they are equally challenging. The only reason I would say that study abroad is more challenging is because there are so many other distractions. You want to go talk to your friends, drink coffee, relax by la Rotonde and watch the water fall from the fountain. You want to see the leaves fall from the trees and the sky cane from blu to pink to purple. You want to lie life but you also have to study. Yet I have been ale to find a balance and it’s not like work isn’t manageable but it exists and it is challenging. I have fallen in love with my classes, with my friends, with the city of Aix and it is honestly hard for me to think about going back to the United States. I have a million reasons to say and to many little to leave and it breaks my heart to know that I have to go back. The experience so far has been amazing. I have found life long friends! I have perfected ,y French! If you are doubting wether you should try study abroad or not you should totally try it. It is the best decision I’ve ever made. You will fall I love with Aix, with France. It is honestly the most gorgeous place. Aix is an hour away from Marseille and for some reason I keep finding myself going back to that city. It is the second biggest city in France and has a bad reputation for being insecure. But it is also one of the most beautiful cities I have ever been to. The people in Marseille have such a positive outlook on live, they are tolerant and against racism and any other type of discrimination. They also have the best soccer team! OM aka Olympique de Marseille, I went to a game and I honestly couldn’t stop smiling after!! The team spirit the love for their team it is something I have never felt before.OM is by far my favorite soccer team in the French league!
