It’s currently 21:45 (AKA 9:45pm) on a Wednesday night, and the realization that I have been in France for almost a month just hit me like a train. My program directors and French student assistants have been telling me that these three and a half months will fly by, but I didn’t quite believe them until now.
Despite having been in France for 22 days, I still don’t think it has quite sunk in that I am living in a foreign country. That I am abroad. That I am studying abroad…for an entire semester. My middle school self, who dreamed of this since her first French class in seventh grade, would be pinching herself right now. If I look at my life from a distance, it’s hard to believe how fortunate I am to have an opportunity like this. At the same time, however, in the day-to-day hustle and bustle I often lose sight of where I am and what I am doing. I am ameliorating my French language skills (shoutout to the French verb “améliorer”) while also discovering a new culture and learning to trust myself in unfamiliar and sometimes uncomfortable situations.
I arrived in France on September 1st, and it has been a whirlwind of adventures since then. My study abroad program, IES Abroad in Nantes, kept us very busy the first two weeks with day trips and orientation activities. Although exhausting, they were also exhilarating, and I am grateful to have chosen a study abroad program that cares to take the students on trips around the region and to spend time giving us useful information.
During our first weekend here, we jumped right into regional excursions in Bretagne (Brittany). On Saturday, IES took us to a beautiful island on the Atlantic called “Île-aux-Moines.” We biked around the town, swam at the beach, ate ice cream by the port, and took a boat tour around the islands. This was not only a fun and enriching experience, but also gave me the opportunity to bond with other members of my study abroad group, who are all incredibly nice. We are a group of about thirty-five students hailing from all corners of the United States as well as a few other countries. I feel lucky to be with such a wonderful group of people.
At Île-aux-Moines
Biking at Île-aux-Moines
On Sunday, we started the day by visiting the marais salants of Guérande—salt marshes that have been in use since the seventh century. There are two main types of salt harvested here, “gros sel” and “fleur de sel,” both of which can be found all over the world. (One of my friends told me her mom found biscuits made with Guérande salt at Costco!). There are only a handful of salt flats in France, including one in the nearby city from which my grandmother comes, La Rochelle. With all of the advanced technology and industrialization present in today’s world, seeing a man harvest salt by hand with a long-handled rake was an incredibly humbling and grounding experience. I felt like I was being pulled back in time. After visiting the marais salants, the group had lunch at a delicious crêperie and then spent a short time in the medieval walled town of Guérande, which I’m hoping to visit again in the coming months.
Marais Salants de Guérande
The following week—my first full week in France—was spent doing lots of administrative tasks and attending orientation meetings. Class registration, safety tips, transportation information, city sights, and more. In between meetings I ate baguette sandwiches and almond croissants. (Pro tip: try a “pain au chocolat aux amandes” if you are ever in France. It’s a cross between a chocolate croissant and an almond croissant…and is simply out of this world.)
After a surreal weekend in the port town of Pornic with friends, classes started on Monday, September 13th. At this point, I have almost two weeks of classes under my belt, with final course registration happening in a couple days.
In my next post, I will dive deeper into the nitty-gritty of my study abroad experience so far, with a particular focus on host family living and academics.
À bientôt,
– Ella