By Ellie
This past month has been such a whirlwind of fun, beautiful scenery, and making great friends. To think I debated not coming because I thought I would get homesick after going through so much change in the past couple months. I’m so, so glad I came. This trip has taught me so much that I simply couldn’t have learned from Combs Hall. I have always felt deeply that traveling is the best way to learn about other cultures and places, but I can now also say that living in different places for semi-extended periods of time has most definitely impacted me more than just visiting another place for a week or two. I’ve learned things about myself I otherwise wouldn’t have. Since covid, travel gives me anxiety that I never experienced prior. But man, being in Paris you have to deal with covid alongside the other four million people here, and everything worked out okay (sorry Dr. Haffey). I’m not even a Historic Preservation major and I still felt like everything we learned in class was very accessible to me and travelling in general scratched my geography itch. I’m so thankful for everything I experienced, saw, and the knowledge imparted on me. Words can’t describe how much I appreciate Dr. Smith and Dr. Haffey and their loved ones for sharing them with us. Thank you again to everyone for such a great trip <3
