Friday September 2nd was the moment I feared the most. Not only did it mean my exchange program at Middlebury College started but it also entailed so many other things, such as leaving France, the only country I have ever lived in. I would have to be uprooted to the twenty-one years of my life spent here, living a pretty comfortable and sheltered life, away from life’s evil traps. I have always been in a very protective family, which resulted in me not knowing a lot about the real outside world, as in, I did not know how to get by myself. This year abroad was the perfect opportunity for me to discover something new and bring about a fulfilling life experience for me.
The other heart-breaking thing for me was not only to separate from my family (although I strongly believe my departure must be some kind of heaven vacation for them), but also my boyfriend. This time, we would not be separated from each other by a three-hour-long train distance, but by an ocean with six hours of time difference. We both tried not to think about the inevitable. Since February, we tried to visit each other as much as possible to take most of what time could offer us before the ultimate moment. I therefore grew accustomed to being with him every day in Amsterdam. My times there with him were perfect. I instantly fell in love with this charming cute little city as well, which is so different from grey, noisy and dull Paris.
The other heart-breaking thing for me was not only to separate from my family (although I strongly believe my departure must be some kind of heaven vacation for them), but also my boyfriend. This time, we would not be separated from each other by a three-hour-long train distance, but by an ocean with six hours of time difference. We both tried not to think about the inevitable. Since February, we tried to visit each other as much as possible to take most of what time could offer us before the ultimate moment. I therefore grew accustomed to being with him every day in Amsterdam. My times there with him were perfect. I instantly fell in love with this charming cute little city as well, which is so different from grey, noisy and dull Paris.
In addition to all of this comes the fact that so far, I had never travelled all by myself (in a plane). Of course, it is totally different from a train-trip or even a flight within the European Union. I was scared of the travelling procedures, how to deal with the luggage, the American customs, etc. These perspectives were not thrilling.
As a consequence, I obviously was not looking forward to this imminent date. Yet, some part in me liked to think that this was a unique adventure, one of a lifetime. After all, not everybody gets to go to study to the USA, let alone to a private elite liberal-arts college that covers the cost of my tuition, board and lodging, (you do not want to know how much), right? This was therefore the motivating part. I would have the opportunity to discover Vermont, a rural state I have not been to yet (and would probably have never visited it), to live on a campus, to experience American’s education and to master English.
Thus, there were a lot of exciting perspectives to come, although my heart was already in pain from what leaving would entail.
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