Although I completed my Year Abroad during a pandemic and was only able to go abroad for four months, I still explored France as much as I possibly could during my stay. I completed a semester at the University of Jean Jaures in Toulouse and thus this was the city that I explored the most.

Despite the difficulties and the restrictions posed by COVID-19, I am still glad that I went abroad and would still count it as my best experience to date, even though my university classes ended up being fully online so I technically could have completed them anywhere. Prior to living in France, I had only ever travelled by plane once with my friend who organised all the travel. I went from this extremely limited experience to having to take two separate flights to reach Toulouse, arriving at my studio flat at 1pm after little-to-no sleep and travelling solo through the early hours of the morning. Travelling is something that has always given me a great amount of anxiety, and for someone who suffers from panic attacks, it can be very difficult. I was originally going to travel with my partner before the pandemic hit, so going to France by myself was a huge achievement, one I am very proud of myself for.

Whilst I was abroad, I also lived by myself in a studio, again something I was terrified to do. I am someone who does not like to be alone and finds making new friends very anxiety-inducing, and so to say I was simply nervous to live alone is anything but an exaggeration. Being in France completely pushed me out of my comfort zone; I travelled alone, I lived alone, I had to actively put myself out there to make new friends and had to speak a foreign language that I have never been particularly confident in – speaking French in front of others and having panic attacks have always gone hand in hand for me. Yet, I conquered all of these difficulties and even though it was not always sunshine and roses, I do not regret a single thing about the experience as it has allowed me to grow as a person.

Now, let’s talk a bit more about Toulouse. The city known as ‘La Ville Rose’ (although in all honesty, it is more orange than pink) is situated right in the middle of the South of France. Being in the South, Toulouse gets all the warm weather which I thoroughly enjoyed for most of the Spring months, but maybe not so much in May and June – I am English after all. Also, a fun fact for readers: one of the biggest debates between the North and South in France is what you call a chocolate croissant, in Toulouse, they call it a chocolatine instead of a pain au chocolat.

Throughout my time in Toulouse, I tried to visit as many places as I could although I was limited in what I could do as restaurants, bars, museums etc were close for the majority of my stay. One of my favourite places in Toulouse was the Jardin des Plantes – I would often get a metro into the centre of the city and walk to the gardens with a book in hand, grabbing an ice cream on the way. Another of my favourite spots was by the River Garonne which is a popular spot for the locals during the summer.

The centre of the city was always bustling full of life (except on a Sunday when most shops are closed in France) even during the lockdown. Although concerning at times, this provided a sense of normality to my stay. I must admit, however, that wearing a mask outside was very strange. The most notable sight to see in the centre is Place du Capitole, although the Capitole itself was undergoing construction the entire time I was there. The Place du Capitole is home to many restaurants and bars which are extremely popular.

Before rounding off this article, I do need to give a quick mention of all of the delicious food I ate. My friends and I went to a bakery at least once a week, eating a croissant and sharing a selection of sweet treats. The cheese in France also received my approval; fresh baguette, melted camembert and red grapes is a superior meal.

Overall, although I had to face many challenges during my short period abroad (the pandemic, the visa process and general anxiety to name but a few), I still view it as a positive experience, and I am immensely proud of myself for not floundering in the deep end. I would strongly urge anyone who can to study abroad because those short four months were paramount to my personal growth. Not only that but living abroad is such an invaluable experience: you discover a new culture, try new food and meet so many new people.

Want to read more about completing a year abroad? Check out these Travel articles:

Year Abroad Series: Top Tips

The Small Things: A Year Abroad in Amsterdam

Managing your Mental Wellbeing on a Year Abroad