Audrey Telfer, Sciences Po Exchange, Fall 2014
I was not keen on leaving Paris. My friend and I stayed up all night the night before our flights home, savoring the fairy tale world we would soon be leaving. After a fabulous meal of crêpes in the 7th at an adorable hole in the wall restaurant, we wandered around the streets towards the Eiffel Tower and then along the Seine.
The next morning, as I went through the onerous process of boarding a flight to the Unites States (3 security check points!), I was able to confirm the degree of assimilation and language improvement I had achieved in the previous four months. I went to check my bags and encountered the first security check. I handed over my American passport while saying “Bonjour, comment ca va?”. The official did a double-take, he glanced at my passport and asked skeptically if I spoke French. I replied I did and then he went through his verbal questionnaire, looking astonished each time I was able to answer appropriately. When I reached the woman who would send my bags down the conveyor belt, she asked me if I preferred French or English, I replied “Comme vous voulez (whatever you like)” and she continued in French!!! I was ecstatic!
Things had changed so much since I had first arrived. Before, an American passport meant English all the way, no questions asked. On my last day, I had convinced the airport staff that I was proficient in both languages. Needless to say, I was very reluctant to board the plane an hour later.
Now back State side, I’m having a little trouble adjusting (reverse culture shock). I don’t know what to do with the extra couple hours per day I have that were usually devoted to public transportation. It’s remarkable how much faster I am able to communicate with everyone around me now that I don’t have to think about which prepositions follow which verbs. Classes go by in a blink of an eye now that I’m no longer taking 2 hour-long classes at Sciences Po.
However, despite my desire to go back to Europe, I can’t deny the smile on my face every time I see someone on campus I haven’t seen in 6 months. It was a reluctant departure but a delightful arrival.
Exchange friends (Turkish, Brazilian, English, and Bulgarian) in front of Notre Dame