Everything about France has always fascinated me. I had a massive Eiffel Tower sticker, that spanned my entire bedroom wall for years; and I went through an all-black clothing phase in attempt to be more Parisian. The reason I took French class in the first place was to eventually achieve my goal: traveling to France. And this past February, my dream came true–I was able to live the Parisian life. Well, for two incredible weeks at least.

The months of anticipation flew by and before I even knew it, after nine hours on a plane and a three hour bus ride, I entered Le Havre, Normandy. Turning the corner in the compact airport bus to see all of our host families, eagerly smiling and waiting for us was one of the most nerve-wracking sights of my life. After an entire day of traveling, we were a haggard bunch. Girls frantically fluffed matted hair and boys straightened their crumpled clothes in an attempt to give solid first impressions.

After hearing Mr. Pierre call my name, with shaky legs I walked off the bus to meet my exchange family for the first time. My exchange student and I had been having basic interactions through email and Snapchat for the past month, but, seeing her for the first time in person would be entirely different. In our emails we found that we had a lot in common but I was terrified that once we met in person, all of our similarities would go out the window. Worrying I’d been catfished, I smiled and said a basic “Bonjour!”

The host mother smiled at me and started speaking in rapid French. The language barrier hit me like a freight train and my stomach filled with dread as I realized that this was going to be my life for the next week and a half.

The first day was uncomfortable and filled with toothy smiles and simple nods on both parts. I woke up the next morning with a jolt of panic and braced myself for even more uncomfortable misunderstandings. I was expecting to feel like a fish out of water but quicker than I could believe,  I actually found myself adapting to their lifestyle.

Everything was in walking distance to their small flat and so we walked. A lot. To school, to the mall, to the market, to all the cafes. Constantly being on our feet helped balance out the massive amounts of food we ate. The well-known stereotype of Americans who love to eat was tested time and time again. Out of fear of being offensive, I simply said “oui” when offered more food and ate all that they gave me at family meals. I don’t think there was ever a moment when I was hungry throughout the trip.

Easily one of the most terrifying experiences was going to school with the French kids. In every class, we were introduced as “les petits Americans” and the reaction varied amongst the students. Some kids barely batted an eye while others swiveled around and badgered us with questions about TV, music, and even about the legalization of cannabis. In one English class, a girl walked right up to me with her hand outstretched and practically demanded I give her some gum. I think I can safely say that the confidence in each student is incredibly unwavering and I hope I took a little of it back home with me. I also quickly realized that the girls in France don’t walk. They strut. I constantly felt like I was on a fashion runway where girls with heeled boots and messy bedhead hair owned the halls. And I adored it.

This trip was an entirely immersive experience; and for the days when we were with each of our kids, we went to school with them, out to lunch, and hung out with their friends. All of their friends and the other kids in the exchange program were truly some of the friendliest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Their interest in American culture is so endearing that it left me feeling more appreciative as well. One afternoon I watched an over dramatic French soap opera with my exchange student, her friend, and another set of exchange students. I asked one of the girls if she enjoyed this show and she laughed and quickly said no. When I asked why she simply said, “Because it’s French.”

On the other days when we were not with our kids, we went on excursions all around the area. We journeyed to the breathtaking Mont St. Michel Abbey, Rouen, Normandy Beaches, American Cemetery and even more. Each significant place was unforgettable, not only because of the sights, but the memories I made with my Americans travel companions. On these excursion days, we spent a lot of time together. If you are looking for a quick way to bond with a group of 13 people, I highly suggest traveling to a foreign country with a goofy and eccentric tour guide so you can all join forces together.

On the day we left for Paris, there was a lot of tears, mainly from the French kids, but our feelings of sadness were overshadowed with pure excitement about traveling to the city of lights. After a quick train ride, we arrived in Paris and I have never seen anything as wonderful in my life. I may be biased with my pure love for all things French, but Paris was the best place I have ever traveled.