Au revoir

After 7 months of teaching in St. Dizier, my contract came to an end, as planned, at the end of April. My final days in France included travels outside the borders to visit some famous and off-the-beaten path European destinations.

Traveling with my Mom around various parts of western Europe helped to reinforce many of the lessons learned over the last few months. From walking across the Rhine River into Germany by foot-bridge to taking a tour of an historic chocolate factory in Brugge, Belgium, we enjoyed seeing new places and meeting new people.

Perhaps what continues to be strikingly obvious, upon returning to the U.S., is the incredible size of everything. Whether it is the size of our cars or buildings or the size of our meal portions, I am reminded that our culture has seemed to embrace the idea that bigger is better. While this is not always true, it is acutely apparent after time abroad.

Another striking difference is the pace of life. French people, especially in areas outside Paris, continue their long lunch breaks, meaning most shops and offices are closed from noon to 2pm. Additionally, life in general is a bit slower paced. A return to the U.S., almost as soon as you set foot in the airport, reminds you that we are a country accustomed to hustle and bustle, clock watching and punctuality.

I do not mean to imply that one culture is better than another; but, rather, to identify and raise awareness of some distinct differences. The value of living, traveling and/or working abroad is that you begin to appreciate these subtleties. To rethink our way of living -- whether it is learning to drive smaller, more efficient vehicles, or spending more time with family and friends, or eating or cooking foods with less sugar and fewer preservatives, there is often much to be learned from cultural interactions.

While I was sad to leave France and a more relaxed way of life, I found solace in visiting with Claire — a French woman who we ran into at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport while awaiting our ride home. Ironically, Claire lives in the same neighborhood in Paris as my friend Anne, where my Mom and I had stayed while visiting the city. She had come to the states to visit an old friend in Phoenix.

I continue to find inspiration in the interactions with people around the world, knowing that we are all learning and hopefully, working towards a brighter tomorrow; and that we actually share many commonalities. We must be open to broadening our minds through new experiences and interactions. These past seven months in France and previous two years in Morocco are proof to me that cultural exploration and interaction is invaluable.