This summer, I studied abroad in Paris. I went for three weeks and then to Nice in the South of France for a week. After, two of my friends and I went to Italy and Spain for a week after the program was done.

Paris was a city that taught me the essence of history. Being from Maine and going to a public school, I was never taught world history. So when I went to Paris and began learning about colonization and historic monuments around the city, I felt completely ignorant.

I took two classes while over there. In both we discussed colonization and literature and I was astonished by so many things because I had never heard of any of these events that took place just mere years ago. I’ve always had a heart for history, but I didn’t realize how much I was missing out by not knowing world history. I wasn’t even aware I didn’t know world history until I went there.

Paris not only taught me about history, but it taught me about life: How people survive, how people live and how I was doing with it all in my own life. I wasn’t living the way I wanted to and I figured it out walking through the city streets and staring at the Eiffel Tower and passing Notre Dame. I wanted more to my life than what I had.

Paris enriched me. It inspired me. I wanted to be like Van Gogh, minus the suicide. I wanted to be like all the artists and writers who succeeded there. I had drive and determination, and I felt empowered by that feeling.

I kissed Oscar Wilde’s grave. It was a pretty awesome moment in my life. I mean, it’s Oscar Wilde.

I loved all the different monuments of Paris. Moulin Rouge was one of my favorites to see partially because my best friend is obsessed with it. I lived for her that day. It was a pretty great feeling. I wish she could have been there with me, though.

One of my dreams came true in Paris. I finally saw the Mona Lisa- one of my favorite paintings of all time. I did many research projects on her and Da Vinci, so finally getting to see her and take a picture with her was an honor.

Paris made me stronger. Paris made me realize that I didn’t know all there was to know, but also made me smarter at the same time. I have a lot to learn about culture and literature. I have a lot left to learn about living.

The only problem with this whole adventure was I wasn’t exactly financially prepared for Paris. I’m more of a free spirit and don’t plan anything ahead of time, so I didn’t save for Paris until the summer started. I was scheduled to leave June 30th and get into Paris on July 1st. I moved back to Maine for the summer in May, so that gave me five weeks to work and save enough to survive in Europe for five weeks. I did make a lot of money, but not enough to be able to do everything I wanted to. Let’s just say my credit card bill is through the roof. As I reflect on it, I probably should have thought the study abroad program through more. I should have planned and saved and been realistic about what I could do. But on the other hand, I had the experience of a lifetime and I made it home alive. Win-win.

The whole study abroad trip was quite the experience. It was my first time being in a foreign country for that long, but I felt right at home everywhere I went. I love traveling, and it was great to do it this long with two of my friends. It surpassed my expectations and made me grateful that I was able to go through everything I went through, good or bad.

I do suggest you plan ahead of time if you want to study abroad. Talk to your financial advisor at your school and see if you can get financial aid. Different schools have different programs and different aid to go along with those programs. Most schools make you do a full semester abroad instead of just one month. It’s also possible to go through another school to do a study abroad program. Shop around a little bit to see which schools have the better choices that fit you.

If you don’t want to study abroad and want to volunteer, instead check out International Student Volunteers. Three of my roommates went to Thailand and loved it. Although the conditions there aren’t so glamorous, it is a great experience and lets you see what it’s like to live in a third world country. There are many different countries you could go to and help, so research and apply.

I highly encourage anyone who hasn’t traveled to a different country to get out there and do it! Alone, with your friends or mate, whatever, just go. You won’t regret it. I never will regret it no matter how much debt it put me into, and no matter what happened on the trip. I found a piece of myself I had missed for a long time and I finally got to feel alive…again.

That’s a feeling no one can take away from you.

-DeAnna Britton