Final Cultual Post

Getting your tonsils out the day after you return from France really lends to a lot of reflecting time on the trip and life in general. Naturally, when I'm not lusting over solid food or just food in general, I can't help but to compare this trip to my trip to Spain last year. These two trips have been the best summers of my life, and I would do anything to relive them both. Spain was a wonderfully warm place filled with what might be considered too much partying. I met people that changed me, but in all honesty I never stayed in close contact with them. It taught me how to live alone in a foreign country where I didn't have my parents or a high school chaperone watching my every move. I think all in all I learned more about functioning and taking care of myself when I was in Spain, especially having to go to a mac store and buy and entirely new computer. I was a 19 year old on a trip with people who were well over 21 and nothing has ever forced me to become mature like that trip did. Paris on the other hand was a completely different, somewhat chillier experience. Frances you told me you had never seen me so happy before, and maybe thats because these last 5 weeks have honestly been one of the best experiences of my life. Going on this trip felt like I was just going somewhere with my friends, not at all like we were strangers. I can't even begin to list the wonderful memories that we created over the past few weeks, from conch shells to catacombs from dynamo to Giverny from bars to fitting 4 people in my full size bed I can't think of 11 other people that I would have liked to spend this time with ( and yes Frances that includes you!). Even the bad times like wandering for hours trying to find a place to eat, or not being allowed into clubs didn't really matter because I knew wherever we ended up it would be a good time. That was always guaranteed. I can't put my finger on exactly what about this trip changed me so much, but I know that I am a different person than the one who stepped off United flight 990 on May 29th. It could possibly be that I met 10 people who I never want to loose contact with; 10 people who in such a short amount of time I felt like I could 100% be myself around and never feel judged or misliked. Today and everyday since we left I miss Paris so much. I even might miss being sardined on the metro. I miss every single one of you and the times that we had together. While I don't know how I changed I know that I am a better person because I went on this trip and because I met all of you. I'm so glad you told me to come again this year Francis, thank you for everything.