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France 2012 - Final Reflections

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Our time in France has been delightful, and Habibi and I will never forget our first international trip together as a couple.  As I write this final entry from my cramped seat on the plane ride home, I feel contemplative and rather introspective.  For the past six and a half years, I have been searching for ways to move and work abroad.  While I would still love to do so, I currently find myself ready to return home to my Midwestern city where everything makes sense to me.  I love the French and have a profound appreciation for their language and culture, but I also feel very strongly that it is in learning about other languages and cultures that we can come to appreciate our own.  As many similarities as there are between the populations of the U.S. and of Europe, I have come to realize that I will always be a foreigner here - an outsider.  Please don't misunderstand me, however; this is not necessarily a bad thing!  It is simply a fact.

 As I consider all the faux pas Habibi and I have committed on this trip (linguistic, cultural, social, financial, logistic, technical...shall I continue?) I have to laugh a little in spite of myself.  As much education as I have had in this field (well, a B.A.'s worth is all, I suppose) I'm very humbled every time I converse with a native speaker, or travel abroad.  I am one fine mess!  The more I learn, the more I realize how little I truly know.  On the other hand, throughout my travels, I have learned that acceptance of this fact makes the trip much more enjoyable and amusing for all involved.

 Habibi and I have been very blessed, not only to have been able to make this trip, but to have had perfect timing with nearly every detail from the weather to the last centime spent.  For the most part, we encountered kind and genuine people whose patience and enthusiasm is to be admired.

 I'm greatly looking forward to our next trip abroad - wherever and whenever that may be.  For now, however, I am glad to be returning home.
Alors, je vous remercie d'avoir lu tout ce que j'ai écrit ici. J'espère que vous en avez profité et que vous aurez l'occasion de voyager en France aussi, si vous ne l'avez pas encore fait. Bisous et bon voyage!

La Tour Eiffel is covered in thousands of little light bulbs.
Every hour on the hour after dark, these light bulbs twinkle for a few minutes.
This is the perfect way to end your visit to Paris, with a promise to return some day.
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