You didn't think that was the end, did you?

My Summer is coming to an end. I'm currently sitting at my gate at the Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris, France, waiting for my flight(I have a good two hours before boarding...). 

Obviously, my posts about my journey through Europe became somewhat lacking the farther into the summer I went. I got busy, but more importantly, I got tired. However, being incredibly tired didn't prevent me from learning an enormous amount. 

And I couldn't just leave my summer posts in the air like that. So, like any good story, here is the clincher, the conclusion, the 33 things I learned:

Americans are kinda rude. Being in Europe, specifically in Paris, everyone is more polite. Even if you don't know the people you're walking past on the street, if you make eye contact, you say "Bonjour". It's just polite. I can't imagine saying hello to everyone I made eye contact with in the States. 

Sandwiches mean very different things to different people. You may laugh. But you never realize that a sandwich doesn't mean two slices of bread with an insane amount of meat, veggies, and cheese, until you're given two slices of bread with some fish paste spread between them and told it is a sandwich. 

If you're listening to music in a different language, the age demographic doesn't really matter. This was kind of already proved back why "Oppa Gangnam Style" came out. No one understands the lyrics, but it was a huge song. While here, whenever we were in the car, we listened to French childrens music. And it was dang catchy. When I said goodbye yesterday, they gave me a copy of the soundtrack that we listened to the most as a parting gift(which we all laughed pretty hard about). But you'd be a fool to think I won't be listening to it.

Sparkling water is an acquired taste.

I love cheese even more than I thought I did. If you ask my old roommates, they can tell you that I really loved cheese when I left. Imagine that love magnified so so much. 

Cucumbers ain't that bad. Kind of like with the sandwiches, you kinda just smile and take the food offered to you and you pretend to enjoy it, dang it. I never liked cucumbers. But after eating them almost daily for the past 3 months, I definitely don't hate them anymore.

I relearned how to ride a bike. Embarrassing that I sorta forgot? Don't worry, after 5 minutes I was a pro again. ;)

America can't make croissants. Just...no.

Sweatpants aren't acceptable outside your home. No one leaves their house unless they look perfectly acceptable. The ONE time I walked across the street in basket ball shorts to run to the store, I got so many odd stares.

I learned how to be alone. 

I learned to separate the people that I really care about from those that I don't.

Hershey's chocolate kinda sucks. Don't hate. If you've had French chocolate, you can never go back.

I learned French. Hahahahaaaaaa. Just kidding. Je pas parle un peu Francais. (I only speak a little French) And don't think for a second that I didn't spend the last 3 weeks practicing how to say that a thousand times a day. S/o to Simeon for teaching me how to say it. 

How to run more than a mile. Running is the same everywhere you go. It was a comfort to me to be able to go on a run, no matter which city we went to. In London, I went on an 8 mile run. Proudest moment of the UK.

If a kid tells you they hate you, they'll probably just turn around in 20 minutes and tell you they love you. 

How to eat. And really love it. I mean, I thought I loved eating. And while I still love sitting down with a jar of nutella and ice cream(sorry), I have learned the beauty in sitting down to a well portioned, well balanced meal, and enjoying the crap outta that meal.

There's a light at the end of the tunnel.

I learned how to be me again. There's a lot of time to focus on yourself in a summer like this. Which is absolutely what I needed.

How to order bread in French. Again, a huge accomplishment. ;)

Even if you go on different paths, everyone you love will still love you.

How to not be a workaholic.

Toy tractors are the best babysitters. 

You don't need a TV to be happy. I'm pretty sure that these kids watched movies less than 5 times this summer. And everytime, it was while they were having a dinner party(so they were with other kids), or while we were on the train. No one just veges out and watches TV here. It's beautiful. 

You don't have to be a tourist every moment you're somewhere foreign to enjoy your time. 

I rediscovered my love for reading. The past few years have been so hectic, I've never really had the chance to read as much as I would've liked. This summer, I read 23 books. And I'm half way done with my 24th. And the most impressive thing about this, is that more than half of these books were not fluffy. I read books on education systems, nutrition and diet, adrenal burnout, and self-reflection. I learned a lot this summer.

Food is art. 

Small sacrifices can lead into huge opportunities. 

The fact that most American born people only speak English is kinda sad. These kids are 5 and 7, and they're fluent in both French and English. And the majority of people in Paris speak English fluently as well. 

Being a tourist sucks.

It's okay to not be busy.

I would rather drive somewhere than fly. With a few exceptions. Flying is really stressful. Driving is easier. 

Europe is by far, more beautiful than the US(mostly). 

I love my family. Okay, you got me, I already knew this. But I was reminded of it daily. My family, especially my mother, has been such a support to me this summer and I couldn't have asked for a better support system.