Midnight Before Paris: Scattered Thoughts, Unknown Expectations

I was once told that all men and women reach their intellectual height during their time at college, because it is a time in which they are most free to explore the world, while having the least responsibilities.From my two years at Georgetown, I’ve found this to be true, and I can’t wait to spend four months of this period of my life in one of the most dynamic and culturally rich cities in the world – Paris.

I don’t know what to expect. I had been to Paris a few times before, but they had all been either holidays with my parents or educational trips with my high school – in other words, there were always adults chaperoning and making sure I never ran into any trouble.

This time round, however, I’ll be on my own. On my own to discover the joys – and pains – of living in Paris, to experience the initial awkwardness and difficulties in having to break down inevitable language and cultural barriers, and, most importantly, to enrich myself as a person and global citizen.

Sure, packing up and moving to a completely new place is terrifying. Paris is still a foreign city, and French a second language – but the only way to truly absorb a language and lifestyle is to throw oneself in at the deep end by moving there. An old Chinese proverb springs to mind: “You learn more by walking ten thousand miles than by reading ten thousand books.”

Only until I overcome all the obstacles that will inevitably face me during my time there, and even build up my own comfort zone, then will I have truly experienced Paris for myself – for all experiences undertaken with a little fear always turn out to be the best ones.

Toe close, a quote by Ernest Hemingway, who famously fell in love with Paris after moving there after as a young man.

If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.

The time I have spent living in Hong Kong, England, DC and Beijing have been wonderful amuses bouches and appetizers, so let’s make Paris a hell of a main course.


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