Je viens pour vous, France! (I’m coming for you, France!)

I’ll be embarking on my journey overseas in less than a month now, and things are starting to feel a lot more real. I’ve been planning for this exchange for over six months now, and these plans are all finally coming to fruition.

The process has been long, and there have been a lot of bumps along the way, but it’s all coming together – I’ve been admitted into the University of Toulouse, my French visa has been approved, and I was accepted into residence. In all honesty, though, it really has been time-consuming preparing for this exchange program. Arranging all of the paperwork to submit my French visa application took months; working out the details for my residence in Toulouse with an international coordinator in France who doesn’t speak English was a struggle; taking French courses in the evenings was draining and making travel plans for after the exchange semester has been filled with uncertainties, but it’s all starting to feel worthwhile with France at my fingertips.

I’ve also had a really great support system throughout this entire process, which has kept my stress levels low. The students from UVic who were studying at the University of Toulouse for the fall semester have been so helpful. From the multitude of visa questions I’ve turned to them for to agreeing to let me stay the night at their apartment when I arrive in the city too late to sleep in my own res room, their advice and support has been a genuine lifesaver. Besides the students, I’ve also had a professor at UVic working tirelessly to smooth out the various kinks that continue to appear throughout the process, and her advice and guidance has been nothing less than exceptional.

All of this planning, although sometimes stress-inducing, is most definitely worth it. As a history major, I can’t wait to immerse myself in a new culture and explore a city dripping with historical depth and context. I can’t seem to tame the excitement I’m feeling – I’ll be walking the cobblestone back streets of Toulouse, buying macaroons in a local patisserie and taking weekend trips across the Spanish border to Barcelona in less than a month, and I have so many adventures to look forward to.

Au revoir Canada! A bientôt Toulouse!

Meghan Thompson is the winner of our Remes Family Study Abroad Scholarship. Meghan is a University of Victoria (UVic) student who is studying abroad at the University of Toulouse in France this semester. She will be writing more about her experiences in France so be sure to check back!