I spent six weeks of Summer 2013 studying abroad in Paris, an absolutely invaluable experience that taught me a great deal. I was fortunate enough to live with a wonderful host family that did not speak any English, forcing me to quickly improve my French language skills, in the very affluent, very chic sixteenth arrondissement. Most afternoons, on my way home from my course on Impressionism, which I adored due to the near-daily museum visits, I would do some quick shopping before spending much of the evening chatting and playing with my eight-year-old host sister, who greatly helped me to improve my French as I taught her English by translating her favorite Hannah Montana and Selena Gomez songs. At 9 p.m. each night, we would watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle from the window of my bedroom. During my stay in Paris, I was constantly struck by the beauty around me and reminded of how truly fortunate I am to be able to learn in such amazing environments; additionally, I was astounded by the knowledge that both my host family and Parisians at large possessed about America and by their desire to learn more about cultures outside of their own. One night during dinner, my host brother, an American history buff, bombarded me with questions about former President Calvin Coolidge that I was, embarrassingly, unable to answer; he and I spent the remainder of the evening learning about American history together. Seeing this interest in global cultures encouraged me to further expand my cultural awareness and knowledge, and I am so excited for my next study abroad adventure, when I will spend Spring Break 2014 in Belize studying the conservation of tropical ecosystems, gaining an appreciation for this new culture, and meeting monkeys, fish, and jaguars.