The Ye–Provence Project

It’s finally happening. A week from now, I’ll be on a plane heading to France. Here I am, sitting nervously on the floor with my things piling up like a mountain and struggling to figure out what goes into my suitcases. I’m currently having a train of thought. I think of luggage, am I carrying too much with me? Now I think of clothes, do I have terrible dress sense? Do I need winter jackets? I heard Aix-en-provence is rather warm in the winter. Now I think of winter, oh how much fun it was to skate on Lake Mendota last winter. Now I think of Madison.

Am I ready to leave Madison? Yes? No? I don’t know. I’m usually not afraid of anything and always looking forward to adventures. But this time, I could feel the butterflies in the stomach. French is this completely new language which I’ve only been studying for 2.5 years, and I stutter every time I try to form a sentence. Oh, I’m going to look stupid and sound funny. Then I realize that I haven’t practiced my French with Rosetta Stone for over a month. Ah, I should’ve memorized more French vocabularies before I leave. No, Ye, you’re so not ready for this trip. Where did all of my courage go when I was 16 and first came to the U.S. alone? The older I’m getting, the more timid I’m becoming.

Then I saw the picture of this lavender field in Provence. I could just smell the soothing scent of lavender and it’s like I was there. I can’t believe I’ll witness this gorgeous scene in a week. The influx of excitement and adventure starts to overwhelm me. But isn’t this what I’ve craved for? A different life and a brand new journey.

Lavender field, Provence. Retrieved from Ibellhop Blog
Lavender field, Provence. Retrieved from Ibellhop Blog

It doesn’t matter that I speak little French. It doesn’t matter that I’m a just-out-of-towner in Europe. I only need to be a person who’s fearless and passionate. Plus with this book, I think I’ll be fine.

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I’ve always considered myself a global citizen. My ultimate goal is to be an international journalist who could speak different languages and travel around the world. This journey is what I need.

It’ll be a lie if I said I’m not going to miss my friends and family. In fact, I miss them already.

Farewell Madison. Bonjour Aix.

Madison. Summer, 2015.
Madison. Summer, 2015.

Love,

Ye