Today I Discovered that My Window Opens-

Window in my room

Sunday was a very slow day, but a good one.

I stayed home because I had to finish a good amount of homework, but that meant I couldn't go to the peaceful demonstration that almost every city in France had for those who were killed that worked for the CHARLIE HEBDO newspaper in Paris. I still was able to see on TV the 1.5 million people who visited Paris for the march. What a day.

Still, even though I stayed home, I was able to find out that the window that is in my room actually DOES open. When I stand on my chair and look out I have a great view. So beautiful. 

However, today was an eye opening day for myself as well. 
French, at the beginning, is easy for everyone, the simple memorization of vocabulary and then regurgitation on a test is basically what you learn. Then after that comes past tense, then after that more complicated grammar, etc. etc. And it's getting (or it is) pretty difficult at this point because you're re-learning how to communiate and not only that, but French is a lot more structured than the English language. 

View from my room

For me, it's a matter of not getting too down when mistakes are made and not making things too complicated. I find that everyone has their own hurdles that they need overcome when learning something new. But on a larger scale I feel that while attempting to learn one giant thing we tend to learn little things along the way. "It's not the destination, it's the journey"....if you must understand it that way... 

That phrase is bit cliché and it's been used too much in my opinion...

Like this entire trip I find myself asking, "Why am I here?", "What am I doing?", and while these seem like obvious questions that have obvious answers, really, there not all that simple. When you're at college and taking a class to become whatever it is that you want to be, WHY? Because it will please your parents? Because you are actually passionate about that job? Because you want to help people, maybe?

Whatever it is, you then must remember that that's your journey and you will have your own war with all it's internal battles to overcome. So why do we judge others based on their journey? Because it's not yours? Because you don't agree with it?

Other view from my room

I think this thought has some correlation with what happened in Paris, France recently. It was great how during the march, great leaders were able to put aside their differences for this moment of unity because, when something that significant like that happens, people are put back into perspective about what really matters. 

So! Bringing it back, just like this trip and my journey during this trip, I'm trying to learn and experience with every single day and if something happens or I make a mistake it's okay. It's just a bump in a road that's 3 miles long. This also means letting others have their own journey. But in the end we all experienced France together. 


Hopefully having this mindset will continue and keep me going.