Fall break. These two words mean the world to a college student who has been going overtime to finish assignments, study for midterms, and has simply begun to lose their sanity. These two words for a college student living abroad in Paris mean that with the freedom from school work, adventure is awaiting stress-free!
Though I could have taken this time to travel to other countries like many abroad students do, I decided that I would stay and explore Paris with the group of students studying abroad in Bulgaria, along with the amazing director of study abroad who arrived at the beginning of fall break!
We started our adventure with an amazing brunch at a restaurant called "Holybelly 19," where I had some of the best dairy-free coconut yogurt I have ever had. It can be hard sometimes, especially in Paris, to find dairy-free yogurt products, but I was so happy when I discovered that the restaurant catered to people with allergies! After the tasty brunch, the Bulgaria girls wanted to see Chateau de Versailles, to which we hopped on a train and arrived in an hour. We explored the beautiful royal palace and gardens in awe and wonder. It was amazing to be taken back into more simple times, but with the elegancy of living like royalty. I got to know the girls from Bulgaria more, which was very refreshing and fun. It was interesting to see the dynamic of their group compared to the dynamic of our Paris group!
The day ended with seeing the Eiffel tower in lights at night-time. It was a beautiful and chilly evening, and with our goodbyes, my roommate and I set off back for our home in Paris.
The highlight of my fall break was getting to know the Bulgaria girls and traveling around the city that I get to temporarily call home. It was rewarding to be able to teach new people the things that I had been taught about Paris when I had arrived. I was able to make new friends that I feel will last for a lifetime! What a fall break it was!