Le Jour Dernier Avant Mon Départ

You would think when I bought my tickets, got my visa, or started packing my bags I would realize that I'm leaving the country for the first time to spending a semester in Metz, France. This was not the case. Now that I'm sitting alone at my grandparents lake cottage after saying goodbye to family and friends, it has set in. I'm headed off to a country where I have never been, I know no one, and I hardly speak the language for over 16 weeks. I may be uncertain about many thing but one thing is for sure, this semester will kick ass!

There are so many things that I'm looking forward too from meeting new people and getting to know another culture to traveling Europe and, of course, finishing my bachelor's degree (though that is the last thing on my mind). :)

Here is where I'm headed. Georgia Tech Lorraine in Metz, France. It's an awesome location that allows easy travel to a number of countries (near the French-German border).

Metz, France

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Georgia Tech Lorraine

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METZ HAS A HISTORY OF BEING TAKEN OVER

Metz looks like it will be a beautiful city in itself before I even start to get around Europe. I'm especially interested in the Mirabelle Festival that is held at the end of August/beginning of September every year. It's not a small village but not the size of Paris, Lyon, or Nice. It will give let me get to know the culture absent the big city. Paris is just over an hour away and Luxembourg is just 45 min by TGV.

Photos from Around Metz

My long journey starts mid day tomorrow when I catch a train at Notre Dame to get to O'Hare. I then take an overnight flight to Dublin and then another to Paris the next morning, all on Aer Lingus. At Charles de Gaulle I'll get on the TGV to Metz then take a taxi to my hotel for the night. The next morning, after over 24hrs of travel and a short night in a hotel I'll be able to check into my dorm/apartment.

Résidence La Fayette

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