It can be difficult to adjust to an environment where you do not know the common language. Since Toulouse is not a typical tourist spot, it is unusual for many people to know how to speak English. This was extremely challenging for me because I did not know a lot of French. However, after studying in Toulouse for three weeks, I was able to adapt to the situation with the help of my peers and homestay family. Here is a log of my typical day at Toulouse as I started to become more comfortable with the city.

7:00-7:30 a.m. - I wake up and get ready for my 8 a.m. class. My homestay mom provides a small breakfast for me, which she does every morning.

7:30-8:00 a.m. - I take the Metro to the station, Palis de Justice, on the B-line. This ride is usually around 15 minutes. 

8:00-10:30 a.m. - I am in my Communicative French class, a beginner’s language course provided for students who are not familiar with French. During this time of the day, we learn the basics of the French language including common French phrases.

10:30a.m. -12:30 p.m. - At this time, I transition into my International Marketing class with students who are a part of the Business and Culture Program.

12:30-1:30 p.m. - During class, I take a lunch break with my classmates and walk around the capital center to grab food. We usually eat outdoors since the weather is extremely nice.

Some of the foods I’ve eaten in Toulouse:

1:30-3:30 p.m. - After lunch, I go back to my International Marketing class where my professor continues her lecture for the day.

My professor took our class on various excursions several times throughout my stay in Toulouse. For example, we went to a nearby university library which was resourceful for our final project. We also went to the Toulouse Airbus headquarters. In addition, we were introduced to France’s medical system after an informational talk led by doctors from a hospital.

3:30-5:30 p.m. - After class, I explore more of the city with my classmates by visiting some of the public parks, shops, and rivers. Once we finish exploring, I take the B line Metro back to Sauzelong station, where my homestay family lives.

Here’s a look at some of the things we saw in Toulouse:

6:00-8:00 p.m. - Once I get back to my homestay family, I immediately start doing my homework and rereading the notes I’ve taken in my classes.

8:00-9:30 p.m. - I eat dinner with my homestay family and we talk about how our days went.

During my time in Toulouse, we often talked about the similarities and differences between France and the United States. I was also able to try a lot of French cuisine through their meals.

9:30-11:30 p.m. - I review the French language with my roommate who is also taking the Communicative French course.

By going through the phrases we learned in class everyday, I was able to learn the language more quickly.

11:30 p.m. -12:00 a.m. - I get ready for bed after an exhausting day.

After studying abroad in Toulouse, I realized how different it is to live in a country other than your own. I have never traveled much before, so this experience was definitely eye-opening. I was able to immerse myself in another culture, which demonstrated how different values are when living in another country. I was constantly surrounded by people who only spoke French, which taught me how important it is to learn languages. I want to learn more languages so I can communicate with others more easily, especially when I travel more in the future.