It seems so unreal that I was chosen to go on this trip. I have been talking about it nonstop since I found out for certain that I was going, but it still does not seem real that I'll be living in a foreign country for two months. I have had immense support from my parents, my extended family, my friends, and my University, which has made the pre-departure plans hassle-free. Needless to say, I'm ecstatic to go. While I am there, I'll be learning about French culture, French language, animal sciences, and I'll be taking an internship. I'll be living in an apartment and with a host family. I'll be doing some traveling and sightseeing in le Midi (Do I sound like a local yet?), Barcelona, and the Cote d'Azur. I have been doing some research of places to visit and things to do all along France's southern coast. I even managed to find a regional guide book on Toulouse and the surrounding area in Barnes and Noble. The area seems rich in beauty and culture. From what I have gathered so far from reading, the areas I'll be seeing in France have influences of both the Spanish and the Italians. I'm looking forward to seeing this firsthand. This will certainly prove to be a diverse and enriching place to be for the next two months.
I'm a little sad to say goodbye to my family and friends. I'll be missing a few birthdays and the annual family reunion. I'll miss spending time with my friends and doing all the great things Chicago has to offer during the summer. It's not goodbye forever and I'll be back soon. Thanks to all technology at my fingertips, roughly four thousand miles away won't seen too far.
Time to finish packing!
