Looking at my calendar, there’s now only 40 days until I leave for Paris. It’s kind of nerve-racking! I feel like there is so much I need to do before August 24^th comes…and I guess because that’s true: I need to start shopping for the things I need. One of my friends is already on her semester abroad in New Zealand (their classes begin in July), and that makes it all the more real for me. As she posts her pictures online, I’ve started thinking, “Soon that’ll be me!” Not in the same country, but still. 

Just a week ago, I returned from a summer pre-med and pre-dental program called SMDEP (Summer Medical and Dental Education Program). It probably encompassed both the most I’ve ever learned and the most fun I’ve ever had in a single summer. The health care professionals, my peers, and the friends I made were amazing! I really do miss them, and I’m thankful for the opportunity, but now it’s time to look forward to the rapidly approaching semester.

Because of one of my friends in the program, I decided to write down a summer goals list. This turned into a Paris goals list…which I’ve now decided should really be a European goals list! I guess my European “goals” list is different from my summer one in that my European one is more of a things-to-accomplish list, while my other one actually concerns goals for myself. Anyway, I’m so excited to put my goals into action: for Paris, I’ve written down some pretty common ones, and some that are probably random, but that would really mean a lot to me if I could accomplish them. Others are basically just about food. But no matter the goal, I hope that accomplishing them will make for an even richer experience on this study abroad adventure.

So, in an abbreviated format, here is some of what I want to do while in Paris and Europe this fall! Aside from studying well, of course:

In Paris, I want to take a picture of the Eiffel Tower at night and when the sun is rising. Just because. And do the wobble in front of the Tower with a real Parisian (for a friend who asked me to). I want to take the metro without getting too lost, and have the ability to ask for directions if I do. Sit in a park and have a picnic with friends on the grass while the sun sets. Walk along the Champs-Elysées while singing that similarly named song every person learns in their high school French classes about “ballader-ing” on the avenue. Ride a bicycle (little victory in itself!) in the countryside and go sightseeing. Come home one night totally exhausted from a great day out with friends. Learn to play guitar. I want Paris to be an experience and a lifestyle that I can fall into. I can’t wait… can you?

Aside from England, Spain, and other countries, I also want to visit Italy and eat some pizza, spaghetti, and gelato. In my first college French class, anytime my professor asked a question about where we wanted to travel, I always said Italy (even though we were in French class…yeah, it made for awkward laughter a lot of the time). There’s nothing like eating food from its country of origin. Plus, when considering pizza and gelato, who can resist those foods?! I also want to ride a moped in Italy. It’s random, but I’ve always wanted to do that. Although I don’t know how I’d acquire one…I’ll think about that then, not now! We’ll see how that goal goes. And of course, I have to throw a few coins in the Trevi fountain… have to finish up this European adventure the right way!

Of course, there’s a smorgasbord of things I want to do while in Paris that I haven’t mentioned here, but I thought I’d share just a few of my ambitions for my stay while there. Hope you enjoy reading, and maybe sometime you can make a goals list of your own too.

🙂