I've had the time of my life

I just realized this, less than three weeks and I'll be back in Minnesota. I cannot express my sadness that accompanies this thought. If you have been reading my posts you know how much I love not just Paris, but Europe in general.  I feel more at home here then I do in Minnesota or Chicago. I know that must not make sense since I speak barely any French, but it's the truth.

Today I had a conversation with someone from back home, and they said that your surroundings shouldn't determine your happiness, but that it should be the people and that where I am is what I make it. I know that I am going back to a horde of loving friends and family, and for that I am so grateful and I am excited to see them. But for me, surroundings and culture are essential. The history dork in me loves being constantly awestruck by Paris. In fact, every place I have traveled too has rendered me speechless in some aspect, whether it be the countryside or the architecture. Europe marvels me, and to know that I am going back to a place where I have never felt that is depressing. I love my feeling of inadequacy here, because it is the type of inadequacy that reminds of how rich and marvelous these cities are. It reminds me that while I am living in the present I am only able to do so because of the past. The person I was talking to countered my sentiment by stating that at our schools, millions of people have lived there and amazing things have happened there. I have no doubt this is true. I mean facebook was basically invented in a dorm room. But for me, that pales in comparison to standing in Notre Dame, knowing that this buildings has withstood 2 world wars, a Revolution, and a plethora of other wars and events. Or standing in a cobblestone alley in the Marais and imagining Revolutionaries marching through.

I heard the song "I've had the time of my life" the other day as I was listening to Glee's upcoming songs, and I realized that Paris has done this for me. The lyrics that really stuck out for me were:

Now I've had the time of my life
No I never felt like this before
Yes I swear it's the truth
and I owe it all to you

'Cause I've had the time of my life
and I owe it all to you

Paris has given me the time of my life. I know that the people in my program played a monumental role in my experience here, but mostly it's been Paris. I've become such a different and better person. And I owe it all to you Paris. Merci.