When I first signed up for this trip, I didn’t know what to expect. I did not know anyone going on this trip and I did not know that much about the French culture. It wasn’t until I started reading the countless books that we were assigned that I started to understand why people loved Paris. Then as soon as I arrived, I truly understood why people love Paris, why people love this beautiful and influencing city.
Today, we visited the Pere Lachaise Cemetery. When I was first told that I was going to be writing my blog this day, I had no idea what I was going to take away and learn from a cemetery. Cemeteries are everywhere and they can remind people about about the sad and depressing times that their loved ones are no longer with them. But I learned that even a dark and depressing time can turn into an inspiring love story or a hopeful and inspiring future.
Paris has taught me to enjoy the little things and to not take advantage of the opportunities that we have. We never know how much time that we have left on this earth and walking through the cemetery helped me realize how real that statement can be. Some of these people died at such a young age. These people died when they were only a couple years older than I am right now. Despite the tragedies of people’s losses, the French find a way to remember a happy memory, even if that happy memory only lasted a short amount of time. They view the love story of two people who never ended up together as a happy memory. Instead of a tragic love story, they view this as a happy time where two people once loved each other despite every reason why they shouldn’t be together. These two people only loved each other for a short amount of time, but everyone remembers their love story. This is just one of the many examples of how the French culture can be very inspiring.
This whole trip has been an eye opening experience for me as well. It has taught me so much about the French culture, their lifestyle, and most importantly the art that they create. This whole trip has been about the American writers traveling to France. These writers move to Paris for its beauty and to experience certain freedoms that they couldn’t experience in the United States. As I am spending more and more time in Paris, I understand why these writers moved to Paris. Paris has such a special literary culture that the United States never had. There are small bookstores and cafes on every corner that people can meet to talk about their latest literature.
Paris has inspired me in more ways than I can count. Every day there is a new experience or a new surprise that I face that changes my view of Paris. I am so thankful that I decided to come and will forever remember this incredible adventure.