Well It's official! I'm leaving Grenoble tomorrow morning at 10:50 am.
It seems so weird to be leaving after living here since January. The past four and a half months have been incredible and I have so many memories that I will cherish forever.
I owe so much to this experience, and I'm so grateful for everything I have gained during my exchange. Notably, I feel more confident and self-assured than ever before. I know that I am capable of taking care of myself when I am alone and in an unfamiliar country, and that I can conquer obstacles by myself. I truly feel like I have evolved from a girl to a young woman during this experience.

In addition to a new found independence, I am grateful for all the people I met during my semester in Grenoble. The friends I made were all international students (not the French practice I was hoping for, but all amazing people nevertheless) who made this experience what is was for me. I met so many kind people from all around the world! It's great to know that I have a place to stay in so many corners of the world now. To all my new friends: thank you for all the fun times and memories. More importantly, thank you for always sympathising with my frustrations of the French bureaucratic system haha!!

Speaking of the bureaucracy of France......

What I'm not going to miss:
- my hole in the ground toilet
- having to climb up a mountain to go home
- French bureaucracy and so much paperwork
- my push button shower
- the abundance of smokers
- being hit on by creepy guys
- French lined paper (why so many lines??)

What I will definitely miss:
- Cheese!
- cheap and good wine
- Perfectly acceptable lazy Sundays
- Coffee
- bread, bread and more bread
- inexpensive pharmaceuticals
- Mountain views from my window
- Travelling
- All the amazing people I met along the way

In the end, the many positives greatly outweigh any negatives during my time here. And we all know that the problems and difficulties we encounter end up making the best stories!

Thank you to the univeristé de Grenoble and all of the faculty and staff for giving me the opportunity to study in your beautiful city! I am sad to leave such a great place, but happy to start the next leg of my adventure!