1. Pack lightly
This is probably the biggest mistake I made when I travelled to France. I brought so many clothes for different outfits, and I ended up not even wearing half of them. It’s okay to wear a dress or a pair of jeans more than one day in a row - I promise no one will even notice and/or judge you for it! The most important thing is being able to bring home lots of souvenirs in your suitcase; luckily, I was still able to bring home quite a few (including new clothes). But just think about packing two good pairs of walking shoes and basing your outfit choices off of those! Good pairs of shoes are really the essentials for your time abroad. In Pairs, we were walking miles upon miles each day, and my shoes were a lifesaver! If you’re going in the spring/summer, I highly recommend buying a pair of sandals (my personal favorite is the brand ECCO). I also brought along sneakers (for those, my favorite are Supergas).
2. Correspond with your host brother/sister as much as you can!
Personally, I emailed with my host sister for months beforehand. I would email her in French, and she would respond in English. That way, we both got to practice the languages we were learning. We told each other about our interests and what was going on in our daily lives, and it was really helpful and fun. Lola, my host sister, would also tell me about what plans she had for when I came to visit, and it made me feel much more at ease for the trip and also super excited! We followed each other on Instagram and became friends on Facebook and Snapchat, and it was just really nice to be able to keep up-to-date on each other’s lives beforehand. And now we are able to still keep in touch which is fun, and she has already told me I am welcome to return anytime, and she is welcome to come visit me in Wisconsin.
3. Buy your host family a gift
Bringing your host family a gift is so much fun and it’s also nice to thank them for being hospitable to you and helping you learn their language better. I tried to buy a mixture of things that represented my local city of Milwaukee, WI, as well as quintessential American things, like Wonka candy or bubble gum. I also recommend buying them something like brownie mix or chocolate chip cookie mix because they don’t have things like that in many other countries. I bought them a Wisconsin magnet and some photographs of Milwaukee as well. For my host sister, I got her a Wisconsin Badgers t-shirt, and she absolutely adored it and wore it right away! They loved their gift, and it made me laugh to see them try American foods and see what they thought. It also provides a nice topic of conversation the first night you stay with them, and it relieves any tension or nervousness you may be feeling since you are able to talk about things that are familiar to you.
4. Know all the basic phrases/etiquette
My French teacher made sure we knew all the basic French phrases and proper etiquette so we could feel at least somewhat comfortable in most social situations. Going over those phrases and social norms of the country you are visiting is extremely helpful, and it is also a nice gesture to the natives to show you care and are trying to learn. If your French teacher doesn’t provide you with those, there are always lots of resources online or in books that can aid you, too.
5. Use your language skills as much as possible
Don’t be afraid! I personally noticed a lot of my peers would shy away from using their language skills when we were not around our host families. For example, when we were staying in Paris and would be out at boulangeries and restaurants, people would become so shy and not want to use their French and just point at what they wanted. I encourage you to try to use your French, or your respective language, in all situations! Most of the time, the people you speak to are going to be so understanding if you mess up, and they are simply more appreciative that you are trying. Oftentimes, it can provide a nice topic of conversation. I was getting gelato one night and the man helping me was asking me about where I was visiting from and how I liked France so far. It made the situation a lot more enjoyable. In your host family especially, make sure to use your language skills. They are there to help you, so don’t be timid! My host sister, Lola, was so helpful and so were all her friends. We would exchange slang terms and see how teenagers in France and America were similar and different. I even got to go to prom in France, which was absolutely amazing! I got to experience their school culture and practice my French with other teenagers. Overall, it was really cool getting to understand the everyday language of French more and working on my accent and inflection as well.
6. Keep a journal of your daily activities
This is probably one of the more important points! I made sure to keep a journal for what we did everyday, and it was such a blessing once I got home. My friends and relatives wanted all the details of my trip, and without that notebook, I wouldn’t have been able to tell them as much. Oftentimes, you’re packing so much into one day that it’s impossible to keep everything straight. The journal also provides a nice thing to end the day with while you’re traveling, as a way to decompress and reflect on your day. Plus, I still enjoy pulling it out of my desk drawer every once in awhile and reading about my daily adventures in such a beautiful country.
7. Bring enough cash to start off with and don’t spend it all in one place
I personally brought around 75 euros to start off my trip with, and I highly recommend bringing anywhere from 50-100! It’s nice to have the country’s currency right off the bat because then you don’t have to worry about finding an ATM when you get off the plane. Using cash to pay for your meals and little souvenirs is extremely helpful. For bigger purchases I made, such as when I went clothes shopping, I used my debit card with the chip reader in it and that was nice as well. I did stop at the ATM a few times during my trip, and I just suggest you always keep track of how much money is in your account. When buying things, I also don’t suggest spending it all in one place. There may be a bunch of cute clothes in one store, but if you’re only a few days into your trip, you could easily find other things throughout your trip that you want but then might not have the money for. That being said, if you truly love something, go for it! This trip is an amazing opportunity and you should take advantage of the cool things around you.
8. Bring a list of people you want to buy souvenirs for
I highly recommend this so that way you don’t forget anyone. There were a few people who when I got home asked me how my trip was, and I realized I had completely forgotten to buy them something! While they didn’t mind, I still had wanted to bring them something from France. A list is just a great way to stay organized with what you want to buy for whom so there is no chance of forgetting someone’s gift!
9. Try new foods
This tip is coming from a picky eater! I usually shy away from trying new foods because I’m afraid they’ll be gross or weird. However, I tried to throw that instinct away while in France, and it was a great decision. The biggest thing for me was trying escargot. I was so terrified they were going to be super gross, but they were actually amazing! The food is one of the greatest parts of travelling, so don’t be afraid to branch out - you might end up finding a new favorite food!
10. Have fun and live in the moment
This is the best piece of advice I can offer you. While taking lots of pictures is important and fun, don’t forget to put down the electronics and appreciate the moment while it’s happening. Take an extra minute to admire the sunset, or get up early and watch the sunrise. Cherish the little moments with the people around you because it truly is an amazing experience and I wish all the time I could go back. Travelling is such a beautiful experience, and I wish you safe travels and have the time of your life!
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