I’ve been in France for exactly 2 months today. I arrived last August 27 completely clueless on what’s waiting for me in this foreign country.
Today, I will not write about how my week went or how beautiful the places I’ve been to were. I will save those for another page. Today, I would like to share the things that France taught me for the past 2 months.
Before, I never really understood how exchange students say that your exchange year is the best year of your life. I even once questioned why I even dragged myself into this, away from my family, my friends, and my country. Most of you might think that two months isn’t enough for me to say that I’ve learned a lot, but believe me; even I cannot believe that I am capable of learning so much more.
Little by little, I understand why it is “A life in a year”, it seems like everything that is happening to you resembles something in the near future. I never thought it would be possible to be comfortable with people with different cultures and beliefs. I thought it would end up as a clash of different worlds, and I always find myself so mesmerized when I realize that whenever I go to the nearest “Centre Commercial” with friends, we can literally be 10 people from 10 different countries.
Now, I cannot end my day without having at least 2 slices of cheese or a glass of orange juice in the morning. I am actually starting to appreciate bread during dinner, and I learned to clean my plate using it. I cannot see someone I know without kissing both of his/her cheeks or without saying “Salut” or “Coucou” beforehand. The “Bonjour, Madame”, “Au revoir, Bonne journée” routine every time you walk in and out of a shop and the everyday visit to the church before going home seem to have consumed me easily.
It has been a series of completely different emotions and experiences. Imagine being placed in a country without knowing how to create a good conversation. You will still laugh at my French until now. Imagine having to trust people you barely even know, but you still do in the end. Imagine standing for yourself, and knowing that your actions speak for your whole country and countrymen. I have learned to love being a Filipino so much more as days go by.
I now know that being independent is not actually just doing things for you, but learning things for the future. It actually makes me laugh when my friends from the Philippines react when I say that I wash the dishes, I clean my own room, I ride the bus, I cook sometimes, and I go shopping alone and do things on my own. I even once went somewhere I don’t know through a tram just to get my charger that I left in one Rotarian’s home.
Of all the things that I am learning here though, I think loving and knowing myself is one of the best things this country taught me. Love your own company, go explore the world around you, step out of your comfort zone. It pays to know more. It pays not to enclose yourself on just what you know. You cannot be so experienced to know everything after all. Know your limitations and remember that you know yourself so much better that not even a new world can tell you who you are. Isn’t it so wonderful to step out somewhere and know that your day will go according to how you want it? I learned that one’s best asset is oneself. It’s wonderful, isn’t it? That one day you woke up and realized, nobody can tell me who I will be or who I am except me. That will make you appreciate yourself and yes, you owe yourself this once in a lifetime experience.
Have fun, explore your world, and just go over the horizons. Always give room for more things to learn, because you’ll never fully understand how everyday teaches you a new lesson if you won’t let it. You are able to be fun, happy, and wise all at the same time. You don’t have to do everything the people around you do. Learn to let go of the things that do not help you grow and give some space for so much more knowledge and positivity that the world is able to give you.
Cheers to the best decision I have ever made in my life :)
Je suis d'apprendre tant de choses ici en France. Je vais dire " Merci " à ce pays toujours.
