Category: Classmate Portrait

Andrea is going to be a senior next year at St. Edward’s University, she is interested in film, TV, and media. She is from Laredo, Texas where she usually resides with her parents when she is not in school and her sister who lives apart from the family. Andrea is a very bubbly and energetic person.

Q: Who or what is the most important thing to you?

A: family

Q: Who do you think of first when you think of love? What do you love about them? What have they done?

A: My parents, my mom and dad… I have always been close to my parents, like really close. I have an older sister but she was kind of always had a boyfriend and always out of the house. I was the baby of the family so I always did everything with them. They have done a lot, everything, and I grew up privileged and grateful to have had that life, I don’t know… I’ve just had a good life.

Q: How do you calm yourself down when you’re upset?

A: Probably just listen to music, I don’t really get angry easily or like grumpy or anything, but if I’m feeling more like sad more so than upset I listen to sad music.

Q: Where do you think happiness comes from? Have you felt happy being here? (Paris) Have you felt sad?

A: I guess when I am at my most comfortable, wether that be in the environment that I am in but usually more the people I am surrounded with such as my friends and family. Doing something I like… just doing nothing, I like to do nothing. Yes I am happy. Sad things include my luggage, and then two days ago when I left the group and ditched ya’ll when you all went to the Eiffel Tower, I said I’m gonna go to my room and sit down and do nothing and then I’m going to be like “I have no friends and everything hates me.”

Q: If you could create a perfect world what would it include? Why do you think people hate so much?

A: I would include less hate for everybody… less difficult circumstances for people, for people to live happily with life… I know that’s not possible but yeah. Utopia if possible. I think people are uncomfortable when people are different from them and sometimes people don’t know how to deal with that, that’s not me saying that racism is justified but I think people don’t know how to be with people who are not similar to them. They don’t like that.

Q: What is something that makes you uncomfortable? What is your greatest fear?

A: When I am in an environment where I feel overwhelmed, I just feel uncomfortable, and I just don’t like… I have to take myself out of that situation. Sensory overload and I need to chill. My greatest fear… like a stupid one is being upside down or being under water, I don’t like it very much. Like being under water and upside down is like a nightmare, like doing a flip underwater, that’s an actual nightmare. My big fear is being alone… yeah, not being understood.

Q: Who is your greatest bully?

A: Myself, yeah… I am very insecure, I always tell myself things that are not true and I have to tell myself those things are not true and I am always making assumptions for people. I’m just like “don’t that’s you not them, I don’t know what people are thinking”

Q: Hardest thing you have ever done? Hardest time in college?

A: I guess my freshmen year of High School I had a really hard time and that period of time was hard but I got through it. In college it was the first few weeks I moved out I moved from town and I did not see my family… you know coming from a close knit family. Getting used to like the first few weeks I was like I want to die I don’t want to be here, I hate this school and I hate everyone. I was like no one gets me but then sure enough you just make friends and I really like St. Edward’s now

Q: Who’s your best friend?

A: My best friend is, I’ll say two, Priscilla she is my roommate and BFF and I met her at St. Ed’s and my other BFF is Hannah Lauren and I have known her since Laredo and we reconnected in college. All of us are friends and we’re moving together next august, the three of us… and my parents.

Q: Did you make friends High School that you thought were meaningful?

A: I did and I still have a few friends who are from Laredo but I don’t know, I just kind of moved and I felt like the friendships that did not sustain were not meant to be. I don’t know I was just fine with that. I was kind of excited to get away (from her hometown) I was kind of a floater in high school… just there.

Q: What is an assumption you fear people will make about you?

A: Like basic or boring. When I first met people at St. Ed’s all of them were like “Oh I never expected you to be like that or act like that” or “wow just based on appearance I never expected you to be like that.” I always tell my friend that I am such a contradiction, I won’t elaborate, but I am a contradiction.

 

Calista Robledo is a College student at St. Edwards University studying Writing and Rhetoric, and Catholic Studies. Born in Weslaco, Texas, Calista found a passion for the arts at a young age. Beginning with dance and slowly shifting towards writing. This is Calista’s first time in Paris, and below we talk about what it means to be a creative in Paris, and her influences.

 

Q: During your time in Paris, do you see it changing your perspective on the world?

A: I don’t know. It’s 5 weeks, the first week is almost over, and I don’t know if there’s enough time for me to change my perspective on the world. I do really like learning about cultural norms. And to say I adapt some of these cultural norms when I go home, I don’t know, like not eating breakfast? I’m a big breakfast girl, I love my eggs and toast with coffee before I head out.

Q: Now that you’re here, what’s your biggest takeaway from the whole thing so far?

A: To live in the moment, I’m someone who plans a lot. I like to look ahead. I’m very practical, but here it’s been the first time where I get out of bed and ask myself “what do I want to do today?” or plans will change in the middle of something and I’m like “okay cool, I guess were doing this now”. So definitely so far, I’m very grateful to have that opportunity to live in these moments, to do what I want, with whoever I want, and I get to do what I love, which is to write. I think it’s good to learn the cultural norms, but I don’t see it changing my perspective.

Q: Why Paris?

A: Why not Paris? That is the question.

Q: Why did you decide to take the Paris summer course instead of a full semester?

A: I applied for this program my freshman year, and I got accepted. So little 18-year-old me thought “ I’ll go abroad one summer and later on in college ill go for a full semester.” And I didn’t know if I wanted to come to Paris for a semester, but you know I just wanted to get my feet wet with a summer program. Obviously, that didn’t happen ( Because of Covid ) But I’m here now and I couldn’t be happier.

Q: What made you want to pursue creative writing?

A: I’ve always been very creative, when I was younger I danced. Since I was 3, all the way to the end of High-school. Ballet, Tap Jazz, all that stuff. Then I did theater for a long time. So I’ve always been very creative, and in high school, I got very interested in writing. It was really my English teacher. I just really found my voice in their classes, and it was weird because it was through these very academic essays and testing. And I really found joy in it.

Q:  How do you think writing has impacted you, to who you are today?

A: I think writing has helped me identify my identity as an artist. Like I’ve been dancing since I was 3 years old, I’ve always had a love for the arts

Q: How do you think it affects your view on the world while being in Paris

A: At St. Edwards, in the writing department, they tell us “ write what you know” and “take the things you have knowledge of and write about that” and I think that has helped me a lot in being vulnerable. I don’t like being vulnerable at all, but when I write a play or a poem, and if it’s something about myself or about people in my life, that allows me to express vulnerability. But thinking about things outside of my life, like how I observe, I think of the phrase “life imitates art”.  I think it just makes things nicer to experience.

Q: What is the meaning of life?

A: Experience, you just experience everything. I think Heaven is an option, maybe purgatory. That’s what I think is next. I took an existentialism class last semester, so the whole thing was like “there is no meaning”. That was a great class, loved it.

Nico Sendra is a rising senior at St. Edward’s University majoring in Graphic Design. He is from Dallas, Texas, and grew up traveling with his family around the United States. He’s been around the West Coast, to Seattle, to California, to Florida, and to the Grand Canyon. Some of his favorite memories are from his trips to the Grand Canyon. He’s also traveled abroad to Saltillo, Mexico, where his grandma is from, to Ireland, to Spain, and now France. Nico is a self-described open book and, in this discussion, we dive into those pages by talking about his major and some of his favorite memories about growing up.

Q: Why did you choose graphic design as a major?

A: My whole life I’ve been creative. It kind of runs in the family. My grandpa was a graphic designer, my dad was a creative director, my mom is an interior designer. My whole life they’ve pushed me to do whatever I really wanted. I always liked videos, drawing, and editing. I liked the creative process more than anything. Going into college, I decided to learn business because I thought that I needed to make money if I wanted to survive. I did business management and after the first semester I was miserable- it sucked. I was like “do I want to keep doing this, should I keep doing this?” Once Covid hit, my second semester, I had a little break and was able to reevaluate and out of all the majors at St. Edward’s graphic design was the once most tailored to what I wanted to do. I don’t know if I want to become graphic designer but learning about what it takes to be a graphic designer will help me understand the business side of creative work.

Q: What is the process of working on a project like for you?

A: Creative process comes from the art I’m taking into my life. When it comes to working on something, thinking up the idea comes quickly to me. I also execute quickly. But now, there’s an emphasis on drafts and mood boards and an analysis about why I’m doing a certain design. That’s something I’ve never really practiced but doing that helps with making a good design and good work.

Q: What is your favorite project? What is your least favorite?

A: I think all my stuff is terrible. But in high school I learned how to screen print and me and my friend would print these designs and sell them. We made about four hundred percent profit with some t-shirts we sold. It was cool. I don’t think I have a least favorite. I’m not a professional graphic designer with a professional portfolio so anything in my portfolio is something I’m proud of.

Q: Do you find yourself noticing art wherever you travel?

A: All the time, I see it in architecture, human interaction, street art, fashion, and of that. Especially when I travel. It’s really fun for me to analyze and see how different it is from the U.S.

Q: Let’s go back to your childhood, what is your favorite memory growing up?

A: My favorite memory would have to be when my family went to the Grand Canyon. My dad told us to sit down and just look at the vastness of the Grand Canyon and the family was quiet and observing. I remember it so vividly and remember how pure that moment was for me and my family.

Q: You mentioned that you’ve traveled a lot, what has been your favorite trip?

A: I’ve traveled so much with my family, but my favorite trip is probably one that I took last year during spring break. It was spontaneous, me and two friends wanted to go to the Grand Canyon, and we packed our bags and went. I asked a friend from back home if he wanted to go as well and he drove up the next day. There were so many moments from that trip that gave me so much joy. We went to New Mexico, we went to Marfa, TX. We met up with his friends at the Grand Canyon who are very talented musicians. One of them plays the saxophone and the other one the guitar. This is another one of my favorite memories… we went out to the cliffs at the Grand Canyon past the guard rail and our two friends (the musicians) started to play and the sound resonated around us and the entirety of the canyon. They kept playing and I was sitting there with my friend just listening. I turned around and I remember seeing about fifty to sixty people at the guard rail just watching them play the instruments. We started that. They finished their serenade and everyone started clapping. My friend and I sat front row for that. It was so cool.

Q: What has been your favorite thing that you’ve done in Paris so far?

A: Probably that bike ride that I did at six am. It was my first full day here and I woke up early so I decided to go on a bike ride. It was nice seeing the entire city empty and being able to go around without worrying about traffic laws. I planned to do the bike ride because I woke up and saw the sun rising and wanted to go see the Eiffel Tower.

Q: What is the biggest challenge you’ve had in life up to date?

A: Learning how to be social. My whole life up until high school I was a complete shut-in and I didn’t know human interaction. I was very bad at it. The few friends I made, I kept, so I never really branched out. But in high school, I knew I needed to learn how to interact and made the effort to put myself out there. I’m very proud of what I went through from high school until now.

Q: Since you’ve called yourself an open book, what would surprise me about you?

A: It’s out of the blue. I’m an adrenaline junkie but I’m afraid of heights. Instead of drinking or smoking in high school, I would climb buildings and I climbed a crane once. I’m extremely afraid of heights. We walked to the top of a watch tower in Spain when I was 8 or 9 and I remember feeling so claustrophobic and scared that I couldn’t walk. I was crying and holding on to the walls and we were only about six stories up.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

A: Hopefully in Paris because it’s really cool. I want to travel a lot. I love art. I love design. I love meeting people. I really want to go to Africa, and I want to spend my 20s exploring. I think is better not to know and not to strive towards something. The possibilities are endless and it’s okay to be surprised.

 

Kessly Salinas is a rising senior at St. Edward’s University. She is majoring in Global Studies and minoring in Journalism and Digital Media.

Giselle Rodriguez is a rising senior at St. Edward’s University studying Environmental Science and Policy. She aspires to work in animal conservation, hopefully somewhere abroad. Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Giselle has never traveled outside of the United States. She is the first in her family to really step out of her comfort zone and tap into her independence. She hopes that her decision to come to Paris inspires those around her- including herself.

 

Q: What’s been your biggest struggle while in France?

A: Feeling comfortable. I always assume people are staring at me, thinking ‘oh she’s such an American’.

Q: How about your biggest strength?

A: I think stepping outside of my comfort zone. I’ve noticed that in these past couple of days, I am more open to going up to someone and asking for a table in French. I feel like I am typically outgoing, but only in English. And even then, it still takes me a while. But if there’s someone more outgoing than me, I won’t be outgoing, I’ll let them do the talking. 

Q: You mentioned that you’re studying Environmental Science and Policy, what’s it been like taking the art of traveling course? Is this something really new to you?

A: Taking the art of travel course has been amazing, because most of my classes are science and controversy based on my major. So this has been a really relaxed and fun experience, I don’t have to think that much. I’ve always wanted to be someone that writes and draws. Yesterday, I came to API and didn’t realize we were not meeting anymore. Usually, I would’ve gone back home but I was like you know what let me go to a park. And so I went to a random park and just journaled! I also think this course and experience is making me realize I would like to work abroad. I’ve always wanted to do it, but I never wanted to be too far from my family. But now I realize I would love to be abroad for a year or so. 

Q: Who are you when no one is looking?

A: I feel like I’m definitely shy around others. Especially If i don’t know them, I hang back a lot. But when I’m alone, I am more relaxed. I read, I sleep.  I guess when no one is looking, I am my true self. I think I’m like that around certain people too, like my family and boyfriend. I’m more silly I guess

Q: What’s the best advice you have ever received?

A: To study abroad. People always told me to study abroad but I always thought well if it doesn’t happen – oh well. But I’m so glad I did. 

Q: If you could give your past self advice, what would you tell them? 

Be more outgoing, make more friends. My sophomore year I got an apartment off campus and it stifled me when it came to making friends and being apart of the campus environment- and I didn’t realize it until now. So if i could, I would’ve told her to be on campus. 

Q: What do you miss about home and what will you miss about Paris?

A: I miss my boyfriend, my family, everything. Sometimes I lay down to go to sleep and think I wouldn’t mind being home right now. But I’m so glad I am here, I am really happy I’m here. It reminds me of a time I went to summer camp, and every night I would cry because I wanted to go home. But once it was over, I looked back and was grateful I stayed because it was a great experience. And as for Paris, I think I’ll miss the architecture and feeling like a badass when I use the metro. 

Q: We talked about how your family doesn’t really travel a lot. So, what does this mean to your family?

A lot, since I am the only one that really travels. I took a trip to California before I came here, and they couldn’t wrap their heads around why I wanted to go there. But I think they’re very excited for me…they’re probably terrified too if I’m being honest.

Erin Badger, a recent St. Edward’s University graduate, is taking the skills learned in the classroom and use them in the streets of Paris. As a psychology major, Badger was able to learn everything about the study from theory to applications, but surprisingly, it also helped her learn a lot about herself. A self-described introvert, Badger believes that her knowledge of psychology has helped her become more introspective, and now that she finds herself studying abroad, she is trying to balance her introversion with more social engagement. We spoke about her goals for the trip and some of her stray thoughts on Parisians. The following conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Q: First and foremost, why did you decide to study abroad?

A: I just graduated, so it was kind of my last chance. Also, just for “shits and giggles,” as Calista [Robledo] says. 

Q: Tell me about your time at St. Edwards and a little bit about your major. 

A: I started out as an education major, but I took one psychology class and that was enough to make me change my major. I was on the swim team for all four years but I lived at home junior year because of COVID. But the swim team was like a really big part of my life for the first two years of college. Like freshman year, my only friends were from the swim team, but they were all seniors and graduated. So that sophomore year, I had to make new friends. I’ve made a bunch of really close friendships –  I’ve made the best friends I’ve ever had through college. And I’m living with two of my friends that I met sophomore year.

As for psychology, I just think it’s interesting, and I know I want to work with kids. I took a social work class – which is what made me change my major from education to psychology – and I knew immediately that it was what I wanted to dedicate my life to. 

Q: Do you think you use what you learned about psychology in your personal life?

A: Yes, definitely. Psychology has made me learn a lot more about myself, which has helped me improve my relationships with people. I’ve always been really introverted, and I used to have really bad social anxiety. But I really forced myself to go through with studying abroad. I was really scared to go on this trip because I didn’t know anyone and didn’t want to be away for five weeks, but I’m really glad I did. I think it’s gonna help me navigate my social anxiety too, I guess.

Q: So, would you say your major has made you more hyper aware of your introversion? 

A: Yeah. Yeah, definitely. I am definitely more reflective about my own thoughts and experiences in a way I wasn’t before. 

Q: Is that something you plan on working on here in Paris, and if so, are you trying to push yourself out of your comfort zone? 

A: I think that’s something I can’t really change about myself, so I have to just accept it. I really just want to learn to balance it this trip. Sometimes I’ll spend way too much time by myself, but other times, I’ll spend too much time with other people. So, yeah. I want to learn to be more balanced about that, but I really don’t mind doing stuff by myself. Everyone here seems very independent –  I could see myself living in Paris. 

Q: Is there anything else you hope to accomplish while in France? 

A: I really hope I can make really close friends; I hope we stay friends! I would also like to learn more French. I know some conversational French from high school, but I’d really love to pick up some more by the end of the trip. 

Q: A fun question: Have you noticed any major differences between Americans and the French?

A: When we went on the tour of the Seine, everyone on the boat was very American, and they were super confident but also really obnoxious and loud. And sometimes I think that’s a really good thing – to be really confident and own yourself  –  but they definitely stuck out very much compared to the French. Everyone here is much more reserved and to themselves.

Q: Finally, since you just graduated, what’s next for you after this?

A: I got a job as a behavioral therapist. So I’ll be working with kids with autism for at least a year, and then I want to go to grad school.

Andrea Cardenas is a rising senior majoring in Communication and minoring in Spanish. 

Born in Austin, Texas, Enrique Bustamante is visiting Paris for the first time through this SEU study abroad trip. He is very excited to get out of the States and see what France has to offer. He is a Spanish major at St. Edward’s University, graduating in December of this year. Despite never having been to France before, Enrique does have experience with traveling to different countries, as he frequently visits his family in Mexico. His parents left their life in Mexico to come to the United States, where they raised him and his little sister. Considering how Enrique has lived in Texas his whole life, it is no surprise that there are challenges that come from exploring an unfamiliar place. Despite his reservations about coming to Paris, Enrique is tackling these challenges head-on.

Q: Do you feel connected to your family’s Mexican culture?

A: Yes, I do. My parents never really embraced American culture like a lot of Latin-American families do when they go to the US. They don’t really celebrate American culture or care for it, and they don’t speak much English.

Q: When did your parents move to America?

A: I want to say ’98.

Q: Do you think it’s hard for your parents, being immigrants, especially in America when the politics are so polarizing?

A: I don’t think so. They’ve been here so long already, and we live so close to a liberal city. It just doesn’t seem like we’re affected too much.

Q: Tell me more about your family. Do you have any siblings?

A: Yes, I am second to last out of six. We come in pairs, so [I have] three sisters, two brothers.

Q: Are you close to your siblings?

A: I guess. It’s hard to know them. I grew up by myself in the U.S. and they grew up in Mexico.

Q: What was it like being raised away from your siblings?

A: It was unconventional. In a way, I was raised like a was the first child. My parents left their oldest child when he was ten.

Q: Why does the rest of your family choose to live in Mexico while you and your parents are in America?

A: It’s really expensive [in the US] right now. And it’s harder [to move] now cause of different policies.

Q: Were your siblings born in Mexico?

A: Yes.

Q: How do you think you differ from your siblings?

A: I think they had more freedom than I did [when they were growing up]. My mom kept me behind closed doors, like I couldn’t go out too much when I was little, whereas my brothers and sisters, they were free to roam.

Q: Is it hard to get to know your siblings and stay connected with them since they live so far away?

A: Yes. It’s kind of hard to understand each other’s circumstances. I feel like my brothers and sisters invalidate how I feel sometimes because they think that living with my parents was easy when it really was kind of hard. I had to go through a lot of what they did and it’s kind of hard to understand when we’re so far away.

Kessly Salinas is a rising senior at St. Edward’s University majoring in Global Studies. She is from Friona TX. which is in the “Panhandle,” or the top of the state. She is from Friona, a small tight knit community, and Kessly is close to her parents and 5 siblings. We dove into a conversation about what it was like to leave one community for another, and ultimately what it was like to end up here, in Paris, France.

Q: What was leaving home for college like? 

A: It was interesting. I think because I’m in the CAMP Program (College Assistance Migrant Program) it wasn’t as hard because CAMP is also close knit. I know I had a community at St. Edward’s already.

It was really easy for me, but for my parents… it was so hard for them. I was the first person to actually leave– my older siblings went to community college– so they never had a kid leave the nest. For them they always told me: call us, are you ok? What’s going on?” And I’d tell them “Oh I’m ok! I’m just really busy.” 

But at first it was a little hard. I had a little bit of homesickness, but CAMP kept me so busy I feel like I was able to overcome that really quickly. 

Q: Did you ever feel guilty for leaving your family and your town behind? 

A: Uh, kinda… yeah. A lot actually.

I don’t know sometimes I’d think about the closer university that’s about 40 miles– and that’s not much of a drive in the panhandle– that also has a CAMP program. For a while I felt guilty that I wanted to go to St. Ed’s. 

Someone once told me, “You’re leaving because you don’t like it here.” It’s not that I don’t like it here, it’s that I don’t see myself here. I don’t see any opportunities for myself here, and I felt like I needed to go to another city to find those. 

But it was pretty easy to get over the guilt once I got to St. Ed’s. I realized that you’re not always going to please everyone, and you should just focus on what makes you happy.

It took awhile, but it was worth it. 

Q: Thinking about opportunities outside of Friona, what opportunities have you found in Austin these past three years? 

A: There’s one right now I’m really excited about.

I’m a Johnson Turpin Scholar; I was able to get funding and internships, but it started over covid and I was still in Friona. But this upcoming fall, I’m going to have like an internship with a CAMP alum named Nancy Flores. 

She a magazine/newspaper called Austin Vida, that covers the Hispanic community in Austin. For South by Southwest she highlighted a lot of the artists that were coming to Austin that had Hispanic or Latin roots. I’m excited to be working with her. 

I don’t think I ever would have found this if it wasn’t for CAMP and the connections you get at St. Ed’s. 

Another thing which is not really career based is folklorico dancing. Through dance I was able to connect with my roots again! I remember when I was little I would see the big skirts and girls dancing and I always wanted to do that! There was never a dance company close enough for me to do it. So when I got to St. Ed’s I decided to do it– with no dance experience. It’s been fulfilling connecting back to my roots through dance. 

Q: The last time we talked, you mentioned that you never thought you’d be in Paris, or be able to study abroad. Why is that? 

A: I never thought I would leave the nest because all of my older siblings stayed. 

I remember the first day my parents dropped me off, I was told, “If you’re not going to stay, just leave with your parents.” That was such a shock to me because they told us that every year there was at least one student who would leave. They weren’t ready to move on.

So I looked at my parents, and I looked down and I thought, “I’m not gonna leave. Even though I feel like I should leave, I’m not going to.” I just remember trying not to cry in front of my parents because it was so hard for them. I knew if I cried it would make it worse. I was just holding in my tears, telling myself I was ok and that I was going to be ok and it was just the first day. I had to take it one day at a time because I did feel like I would want to go home. 

It was also not ever having someone to look up to– I was the first one who did it. I guess that’s what motivated me. I didn’t want to be like my siblings. I didn’t want to stay in Friona forever; I was ready to move on. Even then, going to Austin, I remember freshman year I thought, “I’m going to study abroad no matter what.” It was never specifically Paris. I just wanted to go t  any country other than Mexico– because I’ve been to Mexico plenty of times! 

And then covid happened. And then I thought, “Am I not supposed to study abroad?” Then I was really scared that the war in Ukraine thing was gonna cancel our trip. I was so scared. So for a while I tried not to give my hopes up. I didn’t want to be disappointed. 

Q: What’s it been like to leave home, Friona, and Austin/ St. Ed’s to study in Paris for the summer? 

A: I feel like it hasn’t sunk in yet.

I’ve been here almost a week?  I think tomorrow will be a week? 

What I was really excited about was getting time off from work. I just thought, “Oh I don’t have to go to work tomorrow,” but really it’s, “Oh I don’t have to go to work tomorrow because I’m in Paris.” It’s definitely taking awhile to sink in, but little by little it will.

I remember two days after I got here I was like, “Oh my god! I’m in Paris! What is going on? How did I get here?”

But leaving was easy because I’ve always wanted to go to another country. It’s been fun. I guess it’s a little harder because I can’t just get in my car and drive home like I do at St. Ed’s. But I remind myself that I’m just a phone call away. I can call my family anytime I get homesick. I just felt excitement for the trip in general. It made it really easy for me to pack my bags and come. 

Q: What are your hopes for these next four weeks? 

A: I hope to get better at French. It was something I didn’t really think I would need as much as I do. I kinda thought, “Oh I’ll be ok, I know English like a lot of people know English!” But I find myself really wanting to learn French. 

Q: How do you want to grow during this trip? 

A: I think this trip will make me grow. I think it’s given me a feel of what it’s like to officially leave the nest. Because back at St. Ed’s, I was able to get in my car and drive home whenever I wanted, and now I’m not able to do that. In a way it’s making me more independent.