I spent the first couple of days here in Noyon freezing cold, exhausted, and depressed. I felt the lonliest I've ever felt in my life, completely isolated from my friends, family, and all that was familiar to me. My head was clouded with thoughts about the past, and feelings of regret. I spent so much time agonizing over a past relationship, and panicing about the fact that I had several months left of this journey with no way of escape because it was too late to turn back. I was like a prisoner of my own mind. A lot of others tell me that they battled with the same feelings in the beginning, so I guess it's normal.
But thats over now. And I'm so grateful!
Since then I've made friends, gotten to know my roommates, grown to appriciate my new hometown, and most importantly, TRAVELED! I haven't even been here a whole month and I have already been to Amiens, Albert, and PARIS!! And tomorrow I'll be boarding a flight to Madrid, Spain! It will be my first time there so I'm super excied!! I'm going to visit a friend so it should be a lot of fun.
One of the beautiful things about living here in Europe is that I live closer to one of my very best friends, Federica. She has spent the last week with me, and its been so wonderful having her around. It's like being with family, which I really needed. We explored and partied in Paris together, and spent a couple of chill days here in Noyon. Today was her last day in France before heading back home to Italy, and we spent the morning at the open air market and the evening making diner and talking. This is when I got emotional. I told her about how I'm beginning to feel a bit like my old self again, but in a completely different way. I confided my feelings to her and analyzed them. It was helpful because I'm really in transition right now, and I'm just starting to process everything.
After Spain I head back to my boulot (job) of teaching classes to my eager pupils. I'm trying to organize some lessons now because I know all be too exhausted when I get home to try to make some. I promise I'll update more soon! For now, here are a couple of pics of my new home:
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| My day feels incomplete if I do not have at least one pastry or baguette. Seriously! |
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| Before it started POURING out of nowhere |
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| The houses here are so cute |
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| They remind me of Mr Rogers Neighborhood! |
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| Or a storybook |
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| Or pleasantville |
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| J'adore la France! |
<3 Francesca
