Find Yourself While Studying Abroad

When I told my friends at Whitman I planned on studying abroad they asked me “but why…aren’t you already abroad?” As a Zimbabwean, yes I am already abroad but why not see all that the world has to offer. Having studied French throughout high school, I felt as if I never got the opportunity to fully immerse myself in the culture. So when I chose Whitman, I knew it was something I wanted to pursue.

Trying to prepare for life abroad during a global pandemic could have been stressful but with the support of my advisors and the Off-Campus Studies Office at Whitman, I felt prepared for life in France. Constant words of motivation such as “this will be a great place to build on your French skills as you’ve always wanted” or “this is the time to not only get to know more about the world, but about yourself too” gave me the strength and encouragement I needed to finally pack up my suitcase and get on that plane.

The language skills I had prepared so hard for were immediately tossed out the window after stepping foot into Paris. Nothing was as I had practiced. Everything was shortened into slang. Filled with anxiety, I thought to myself “How am I possibly going to make it through this semester?” Then I thought back to those encouraging words from the staff at Whitman and I was able to quickly turn everything around by immersing myself within the culture.

Every week, I went to a new cafe either in the Latin Quarter or near Sacre-Coeur. I visited a different museum ranging from Jacquemart-André or Galerie Dior. I found a group of Parisians to show me around and they soon became close friends. Day by day, I realized there was improvement in my language skills. Four months later, I wasn’t the shy girl who was nervous about her French skills, I was now the girl who felt comfortable roaming the streets of Paris.

All these experiences made me feel better about my decision to study in France. This wonderful city gave me the confidence I needed to believe in myself. I had become a new person—a more grown and independent individual. At the same time, I realized that when opportunities arise, I should take them because they don’t come everyday.

Donc Paris, merci beaucoup pour tout!

Nomonde Nyathi ’23 (she/her) is a Psychology major from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. She is always researching countries to cross off her bucketlist.