ERIN MITCHELL
CURRENT CONCERNS
Including How to Pack, How to Talk, and How to Not Get Arrested
When I first confirmed my participation for the UTT France summer program, I was almost deliriously happy. Whenever I called my parents, they had a hard time getting me to talk about anything else, I was so overwhelmingly giddy. I immediately told all my friends and family – I had an awkward phase of bragging to my friends while trying to seem very offhand and casual about everything (“Hey man, really sorry, I won’t be able to make it to your grad party…Why not? Oh, you know, I’m just going to be in France, studying abroad, traveling, getting to see the world – but yeah, sorry I can’t come!”).
But now it’s been a few weeks, and the idea of studying abroad has had some time to settle. While I’m still ridiculously excited, I’ve had the time to realize that studying abroad – and living in another country for six weeks without my parents – means that I actually have to learn to be a responsible adult. And that realization has brought a whole slew of worries and concerns.
(a.k.a. How do you pack for six weeks of relatively unknown weather?)
Worry #1: Packing
I’ll confess: the longest trip I’ve ever packed for was 10 days, and I still managed to completely fill my suitcase. There are also so many unknown variables of studying abroad. What’s the weather going to be like? Shorts weather or pants weather? What are my day to day activities going to look like? How many pairs of shoes do I need? Are there any taboo fashion choices in Europe? (I’ve heard that booty shorts are a no-go and that you have to cover your shoulders and knees if you visit a cathedral.) What do I do if I forget something? Mostly, I’m just concerned about fitting everything in one suitcase.
Honestly, I know about as much French as there was in the recent live action version of Beauty and the Beast – so basically just the word “bonjour.” And I can only say it with a cringe-inducing American accent. This isn’t supposed to be an issue, because according to the program description, all of the UTT courses will be taught in English, but let’s be real. We’re going to be in France. What if I need to order food at a restaurant or need to ask where the bathroom is? Hopefully I’ll learn a few key phrases before leaving, and I’m sure Google Translate will become my new best friend.
Worry #2: Talking
(a.k.a. I DON'T SPEAK FRENCH.)
As a naturally anxious person, my mind doesn’t seem to shut up about the little things nobody else seems to consider to be of any importance. I have a laundry list of irrational fears. What if I can’t figure out how to convert dollars to euros? What if I don’t have good wifi? What if the signs in the airport are all in French, which, as previously stated, I don’t know how to read? What if a pickpocket steals my passport? What do I do if I get arrested? (Do I still get one phone call? Can it be an international phone call? When I asked my dad for advice, he told me to just not get arrested in the first place. Thanks, Dad.)
So yes, I've got some concerns. But I've also got lots of time - there's about seven weeks left until we leave - so I'm sure I'll figure everything out and be alright in the end. In the meantime, I'll try not to get too excited or distracted as I daydream about what I'll be doing two months from now. It's hard to focus on the next chemistry exam when I could be looking up travel photography tips or making a travel Spotify playlist, but I know if I can just make it through the rest of this semester, I'll be boarding the plane before you can say "au revoir."
(Oh look, turns out I do know more than just "bonjour!")