I'll admit, it was an adjustment going from eating supper at 5 p.m. to eating dinner at 9 p.m. The fact that they considered applesauce to be a dessert did not make this any easier. It was also a learning process getting used to the fact that just about everything closed at 7 p.m. What was a girl to do if she needed to buy a razor? She would wait until tomorrow.

Touring Les Chartreux, exploring the Papal Palace, witnessing the glorious waters of Annecy, and eating frog legs were just a few of my numerous adventures. Many people have asked what was my favorite part of my trip to France. I could easily answer it was the time I visited a castle out in the countryside, or when I watched lavender fields fly by while riding the train, or when I stood in one of many cathedrals stunned to silence by their immense and overpowering beauty. The truth is, I can't narrow it down to any one thing I did or saw. Instead, my favorite part was the feeling I would get standing somewhere that seemed older than time itself. Whether that was Roman ruins, buildings older than our country, or even just a simple medieval street, it had an incredible impact. I was standing where thousands have stood before; I was walking over stone that had seen more history than I could ever grasp.

Because of my experience in France, I have grown as a person. I've learned new ways to communicate, and have developed a greater sense of the world that surrounds us. My sense of adventure and desire for discovery are now a part of me. Traveling the world has always been on my bucket list and this trip brings me one step closer. See you at the airport!