Last Updated on March 10, 2020 by
Me and new friends shopping on Rue de Antibes!
Bonjour!
It has only been a week and I have already experienced so much! Upon arriving in London for my weekend excursion, my head was filled with mixed emotions. I was scared, nervous, excited and curious all at the same time. Most of all, I had no idea what to expect. Traveling overseas not knowing anyone was unsettling, but I was excited to prove to myself that I could do it. I was about to venture off into the unknown – a scary first in my life. Equipped with two large suitcases (that my mom insisted I bring), I boarded the plane ready to experience what I was told, would be the time of my life.
The weekend in London was filled with beautiful sight seeing and tons of laughs with my new friends from all over the US. The best part was a meal we shared at a cozy pub in Covent Square, where I chowed down on a delicious plate of an English classic: fish and chips. YUM! We were also able to visit Platform 9 3/4, which as an avid Harry Potter fan, I was super stoked to witness! Running through the tube with friends, and speaking in over exaggerated English accents concluded our great day. (I’ve secretly always wished I had been born with an English accent and to this day practice it once in a while…) Waking up at 4am for our flight to Cannes on Sunday was difficult for someone who isn’t a morning person (me) but who cared – we were going to Cannes!
Le Suquet Cannes, France
Drifting in and out of sleep on the bus to our University (College International de Cannes), I was amazed by all of the beautiful sites. It’s as if Spain, Italy and Greece had a baby, and named it Cannes. The colored, rustic homes lining the cobble stone streets, surrounded by vast mountains was nothing short of perfect. Later on that evening we decided to take a walk down to the town, not knowing what to expect. My mouth literally dropped at the site of several sailboats docked in the port, flanked by glittering villages tucked into the mountains. Just beyond this port was a plethora of shops, restaurants and winding streets to which we ventured off. We ate dinner at a nearby Italian restaurant, where we quickly learned about some French customs, like having to ask for the bill and that waiting 2 1/2 hours for dinner was “the norm.” It is here that I began to brush up on some of the French I had taken for 7 years back in the States. I quickly realized how much I had forgotten as well as how much I struggle with the language. All I could manage to muster was “Oui.” (Slightly embarrassing). However, the gorgeous sunset was a perfect way to end the evening and from that moment on, I knew I would love staying here for the 2 short weeks that I have, before departing for Paris.
