My first two weeks in Paris were so much better than expected. Not only is the city as beautiful and dreamy as you can imagine, but the small snippet I have experienced into the food, culture, and people has been great. My study abroad class is small, but this has proved to be a great advantage. We have already gotten to know each other so well and build meaningful friendships. This also provides a huge academic advantage because we have more opportunities to have class discussions and form a much closer relationship with our professors. The style of teaching has been much different than our traditional CofC classes but in the best way. Our classes focus on experiential learning, rather than exams. In this way, we can be immersed in the content and are able to better apply our knowledge to the real world. My favorite academic visit from this week was to the American Hospital of Paris. We learned a lot about the French healthcare system compared to the healthcare system in the United States, which was very interesting because it provided me with an alternative perspective on healthcare. I also have experienced a lot of personal growth in terms of independence and responsibility. I have never been to a big city for this long and let me tell you it comes with many benefits and challenges. Getting around the city has been a challenge, but quite entertaining to figure out. At first, the metro seemed like the biggest hoop to jump because it is quite confusing. However, after a couple of short days of struggling, we soon felt like locals navigating it with ease, which gave us a sense of accomplishment. Additionally, I came to France not knowing any French, and while I still would not consider myself a “French speaker”, it has been fun learning new phrases and using them in practice. The other students and I have been trying to explore Paris and the surrounding areas as much as possible. We went to the Palace of Versailles on our free day, which was absolutely amazing. The history, architecture, and art were truly breathtaking, and I would recommend it to anyone visiting the region.