One of the most exciting parts of this year, other than the year abroad itself, has been the trips I have taken with the STS/CIEE program. I recently went to Venice with a group of other exchange students. I adore hearing how other students are doing and what they’ve discovered... Continue reading

Hi! I’m Suzanna. I recently moved to a new town in France. It’s called Abreschviller. I have the hardest time trying to pronounce it, and most of the time I have to write it down for people to understand me. It’s an adorable village on the side of a hill.... Continue reading

One of the hardest parts of preparing for an exchange is the packing. It seems impossible at first to fit your entire life into one checked bag and a carry-on. I promise, it’s possible, and can be much less stressful than it may seem. My biggest suggestion is about clothes.... Continue reading

One of the hardest parts of preparing for an exchange is the packing. It seems impossible at first to fit your entire life into one checked bag and a carry-on. I promise, it’s possible, and can be much less stressful than it may seem. My biggest suggestion is about clothes.... Continue reading

It takes a while to figure out a city, to become a true citizen whose life is based upon the place. One needs to cease the incessant gawking that seems to grip all people when in a new place, and to pick some favorites. I’m talking about favorite shops, parks,... Continue reading

It’s true that if you don’t know where you’re going, the journey seems longer. That’s why the first month of my stay in Nancy, France felt like a lifetime, but the following months whizzed by. Six and a half months is still a long time to spend away from home.... Continue reading

Time moves along so quickly… It’s been a full six months since I arrived here in France. I feel like it’s been only one. I suppose that’s because I thought I would progress a little faster than I did, but then again, being submersed into a new language and culture... Continue reading

Here are some of the “mosts” of my trip so far. None of them are particularly truths, just my opinions. Most delicious food: freshly baked croissants, warm Most disgusting food: Once, at the cafeteria at school, there was peach jell-O with bits of unidentifiable meat and cilantro. There was a... Continue reading

I have not posted in awhile, but then again, not a lot has changed. The big shift is over; I’m already here. After such a huge change, I expected to notice the steps that I took - but really, they blend into daily life here. Figuring out words and catching... Continue reading

Has it really been three months? It feels like less because the time has flew, but it feels like more because of all the memories I’ve made. Nancy, France, the larger city near my town where my school is located, has begun it’s Noel preparations. Every street is hung with... Continue reading

Greetings from France!! Everything here is going swimmingly. It is becoming home; things are fitting into place as common everyday habits so well that I forget sometimes they were ever different. I actually will once and awhile forget how to say things in English; as my French gets better my... Continue reading

Two entire months. I have lived in France for a full eight weeks. In that time, I have (or I feel that I have) completely adjusted to life here. I’ve picked a favorite cafe, I know how to get to a few places in town. I have plans and go-to... Continue reading

I’ve been getting lots of requests from my friends to say nice things about them on my blog. They’re all a huge part of my life here, I should have added more about each of them a long time ago. I’ll describe each of my lovely amis briefly (in no... Continue reading

Today marks the one month anniversary of me boarding a plane that would take me to my new life. Here, in little Frolois, Lorraine, I have progressed much more than I thought possible in a month. When I got on that plane, I didn’t fully know what to expect. I... Continue reading

My name is Suzanna, and I am studying abroad in France this year. I’m excited to share my experiences with you! France is absolutely gorgeous. It’s the small things that make it, really. The pleasant, minute differences between this culture and my own. Like the cute, teeny tiny knife-spoons that... Continue reading