While many students jet off to study abroad in the spring of their junior year, I decided to spend my last fall semester of undergrad in Paris, France. Adjusting to the French education system, befriending brilliant minds from around the world, exploring the lesser-known jewels of Paris, and living in France during a critical socio-political moment for the country have been highlights of my time here thus far. However, I would not consider every day la vie en rose. No A/C during a heatwave, missing some of my favorite American brands, and dealing with a city-wide bed bug epidemic are just some of the realities of living in a different country. And I would not change any of it.
As a senior, graduation and post-school life have increasingly overrun my thoughts. And with that, the prospects of living and working abroad have become increasingly anxiety-inducing for several reasons. Can I really live far away from my family? Will I make friends? Will I survive? Well, the past month in Paris has shown me that not only can I survive, but I can thrive abroad. When you are abroad, you are able to see yourself, your country, and everything you know in a different light. You open yourself up to the possibility of new experiences, adventures, likes, and dislikes that you otherwise would not have known. It is as if you have unlocked this secret aspect of yourself that was always hidden, suppressed by the environment you have been so used to. You may be pleasantly surprised by the person who is freed by traveling. For me, I realized that I love a light Parisian breakfast, that I can eat bread 24/7, that I can (mostly) survive without American conveniences, and most surprisingly, that I love tomatoes–something I refused to eat in the US.
Studying abroad in my senior year has proven to me that the past three years at GW studying international affairs and anthropology have prepared me to value all cultures, perspectives, and ways of life. Being open to everything has allowed me to adapt to any circumstance, proving to myself that life post-grad–no matter where in the world I end up– will be magnifique.
Natha Laura Narcisse
Fall 2023
GW Paris - Sciences Po (GW Study Program)
Elliott School of International Affairs
International Affairs and Anthropology Major