Oh man...I've been away from this blog for far too long. Ever since spring (or more like late-winter) break things have been speeding up here. The school work is getting a bit more important and frequent since the end of the semester is approaching, and I have been busy trying to get some things in order for life back in the states. And then of course, there is just the time needed to take walks to the light house or make dinner with friends or go to Ireland for St. Paddy's Day weekend...which was marvelous, by the way. Irish people really are as friendly as I've been hearing, and additionally, I ended up speaking a lot of French this weekend as the French apparently love St. Patrick's Day.
I will give more updates about that trip as well as some about spring break, but for the moment I would just like to share a few reflections...a few thoughts...a few lessons I've learned just by living abroad. They are going to be rather random and brief, but making these little discoveries is one of my favorite parts about being here. And I believe, in fact, that they are the reasons I am supposed to be here.
OpenSpace
France has taught me the value of open spaces - in both time and landscape. In the states I am very good at jampacking every ounce of space in my life with activity. Actually, at first not having as many work or school-related productive things to do here was really difficult for me. Now, though, I see that I need it - I crave it. I've found that I write more here, so much more, which is largely due to being in a whole new world, but also due to the fact that my mind has more room to wander, to create. So, when I get back to the states I need to leave more open space in my time, and find more open spaces outside.
BraveBeyondBelief
You need to leave your familiar, to take yourself out of the space you fit into completely so you can decide which parts you miss most. It takes courage, but if you give yourself the chance, you will find you are brave beyond belief. Your leaving may also be hard for some of the people left in your familiar life, but sometimes you just have to go. As Howard Roark said in the novel The Fountainhead, You have to know how to say "I" before you can say "I love you." Going away is a really solid way to find out how to say "I".
Learning
I get to read more here, and I have discovered one of the many reasons I love reading is because it helps me see things I feel from a distance, and therefore allows me to describe my beliefs, thoughts, emotions in the perfect way.
I understand with a greater depth the old adage that we are always learning. Every time I think I've discovered all of the facets of a place, person, belief, or myself, I find a whole new category of facets.
HomeInAntibes
The cobblestones that make up these streets are so familiar under my feet. My steps are so sure - the definition of the phrase, "sure-footed". And my head is held high too. This is one of my towns now. Not mine, maybe, but I fit here too - with the new parts of myself I have found by being in this place that was once completely unfamiliar, but now is known. The quaintness is expected rather than marveled over. Not taken for granted, just worn in.
GoodCompany
The French know how to enjoy each other's company; to take time over meals and drinks to just be together. Dinner parties are one of my new favorite things. I will host many throughout my life.
GrandDiscovery
What do I most want to do in life?
Be with people I love in places I love, and be constantly finding new places and people to love, and collecting new perspectives and writing about it all. I want to share all that love and the best way I can figure out how is through writing.
And here is a picture just to add variety to all of the text here.
I will give more updates about that trip as well as some about spring break, but for the moment I would just like to share a few reflections...a few thoughts...a few lessons I've learned just by living abroad. They are going to be rather random and brief, but making these little discoveries is one of my favorite parts about being here. And I believe, in fact, that they are the reasons I am supposed to be here.
OpenSpace
France has taught me the value of open spaces - in both time and landscape. In the states I am very good at jampacking every ounce of space in my life with activity. Actually, at first not having as many work or school-related productive things to do here was really difficult for me. Now, though, I see that I need it - I crave it. I've found that I write more here, so much more, which is largely due to being in a whole new world, but also due to the fact that my mind has more room to wander, to create. So, when I get back to the states I need to leave more open space in my time, and find more open spaces outside.
BraveBeyondBelief
You need to leave your familiar, to take yourself out of the space you fit into completely so you can decide which parts you miss most. It takes courage, but if you give yourself the chance, you will find you are brave beyond belief. Your leaving may also be hard for some of the people left in your familiar life, but sometimes you just have to go. As Howard Roark said in the novel The Fountainhead, You have to know how to say "I" before you can say "I love you." Going away is a really solid way to find out how to say "I".
Learning
I get to read more here, and I have discovered one of the many reasons I love reading is because it helps me see things I feel from a distance, and therefore allows me to describe my beliefs, thoughts, emotions in the perfect way.
I understand with a greater depth the old adage that we are always learning. Every time I think I've discovered all of the facets of a place, person, belief, or myself, I find a whole new category of facets.
HomeInAntibes
The cobblestones that make up these streets are so familiar under my feet. My steps are so sure - the definition of the phrase, "sure-footed". And my head is held high too. This is one of my towns now. Not mine, maybe, but I fit here too - with the new parts of myself I have found by being in this place that was once completely unfamiliar, but now is known. The quaintness is expected rather than marveled over. Not taken for granted, just worn in.
GoodCompany
The French know how to enjoy each other's company; to take time over meals and drinks to just be together. Dinner parties are one of my new favorite things. I will host many throughout my life.
GrandDiscovery
What do I most want to do in life?
Be with people I love in places I love, and be constantly finding new places and people to love, and collecting new perspectives and writing about it all. I want to share all that love and the best way I can figure out how is through writing.
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| A reflection picture taken in the apartment of Emile's mom, where I stayed with an old friend and new friends for spring break. Seemed appropriate to this post. |
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