Lyon: Le Fin
And just like that, my dialogue and time in Lyon is finished! Even though it seems like ages ago, I only left Boston five weeks ago… But during that time I have packed in more excursions, learning, and walking than I have in any of my past study abroad or co-op programs. Although my feet are sore and I could use a nice 8-hours of sleep, coming on this dialogue was one of the best decisions I could’ve made for myself and my academic future.
I went on this dialogue not because I needed the Northeastern credits or was dying to explore Lyon…but because I wanted to prove to myself that I could succeed and have fun living in a very foreign environment. Even though I’ve traveled to and visited much more “exotic” and far-off places than France, I always viewed this country and its culture as very unfamiliar and somewhat terrifying. I can’t quite put my finger on what initially gave me this impression of France, but it always been standing in the way of me visiting and improving my elementary knowledge of the French language. But after only a month or so here in Lyon and Paris, I’ve already grown very fond of the way of life and people of this country. This is truly the experience I needed to jumpstart my upcoming semester in Paris, instilling in myself the utmost confidence and excitement I will need for the next four months here!
Oh yeah, did I mention? I had such a good feeling about how this dialogue would turn out, that I signed myself up for a full semester of studying abroad at Sciences Po in Paris, following Lyon.
Finishing this dialogue has been the perfect bookend to my time at Northeastern, even though I still have two more semesters until I graduate. I started my time here through NUin, a program whose extremely structured nature benefitted a group of 17-year-old students whom had never lived away from home before. The constant guidance and support from the faculty facilitated a seamless transition from high school to college, all within the unforgettable environment of studying abroad in Australia.
Dialogues are formulated in a very similar way, as the majority of students participating in these summer programs are still underclassmen. This means four years later, I’m partaking in a program almost identical to the one that shaped me during a very impressionable time of my life. During those four years since Australia, I’ve lived through experiences (both stateside and abroad) that have massively changed my mindset and influenced my future goals. Partaking in this dialogue has given me an insight into how much I’ve grown since my first semester in college, and has shown that I am completely capable of and ready to be on my own once I graduate.
As I say goodbye to the friends I’ve made on this dialogue and watch them return to Boston, I start to settle in for my next great, big adventure. For the past few times I’ve been abroad through international co-op, I’ve thrown myself into my new job and life without hesitation. But now, after this dialogue, I’ve seen the value of methodically preparing myself for my time studying in Paris come September. I have a better grasp on the French language and cultural nuances, which will surely play a big role in my success this semester.
See you all in a couple of weeks! Until then, I’m taking to heart what I’ve learned during my time here, and going South for some much needed vacation until classes begin again… Au revoir!
