Great Expectations

Claude Monet, Impression Rising Sun Before arriving in London, I had the distinct pleasure of beginning my abroad experience in Paris. Louisiane, my roommate in the city, is from Le Vesinet, a suburb of Paris. Visiting her at home for a few days would unquestionably be a wonderful introduction to life in Europe. While eagerly preparing for my trip, I envisioned the picturesque streets, romantic cafes, and elegant people I expected to encounter. However, once I actually arrived in Paris, I found it to be quite a different place. I had not considered the reality that Paris is a metropolitan city with characteristics just like any other: It has dirt, homeless people, and graffiti covering the walls of the metro. I cannot deny that I did walk along beautiful streets, eat at a charming café, and marvel at the fashionable Parisians as they filled the dance floor of a trendy club. Yet what I take away from the trip were not those events, or the “touristy” sites that I visited. Instead, I remember the lavish meals we had with Lou’s family, the marmalade her mother made from the currants grown in her garden, and most vividly, watching the sun set over the River Seine on one of my last nights. Crossing the bridge into the city, I looked out the car window and saw a pink landscape. I immediately identified with why Monet was so drawn to painting his impressions of sunrise and sunset. Those paintings were not executed in such warm colors merely to make a statement, but because this city really is covered with such light! I’ll never forget the moment of feeling connected to a work, particularly one to which I never previously felt any such connection.

What my trip to Paris taught me is that starting a new program with high expectations can be quite detrimental to the experience one has. As students, we are inundated with anecdotes and advice from our friends, family, and co-workers about what it will be like to live abroad. Frankly, I began to feel overwhelmed with all the guidance. For most of the semester, I tried to tame my excitement to avoid trapping myself into defining what my life would be like before I even arrived. Luckily, resisting the temptation to define how my time abroad “should be” has served me well. Negative aspects of London about which I was warned have not affected me (so far at least). The sun has been shining, I have eaten great-tasting food without spending a fortune, and even before touring the ritzy areas, have genuinely been impressed by the architecture of the neighborhoods I’ve visited. So here’s to keeping an open mind, and allowing all that one does not expect to encounter to ultimately become the highlight of one’s travels.