How was this last month real?

I’m sitting on the plane home to Chicago reflecting on my experience. For one month, I dedicated my life to this class, committing myself to the study of a specific period of history, walking in the shoes of those who lived during the period of the French revolution.

I was with the same people every day learning specific material; free from distractions, happily dedicating a small chunk of our lives to the task of bookpacking. It’s rare that we get a chance to home in on one thing for an extended period. At USC, I feel like I’m constantly juggling my various off-the-wall, unrelated interests, so I’m very grateful for having the privilege to commit myself to one topic in this manner. There’s something so special about focusing on one thing in this way—it allows you to immerse yourself in a different world fully.

I was talking to a classmate about how time had felt so weird on this trip. Somehow, it felt like it went by so fast—but when I stop and think about it I really do feel fulfilled. We packed so much into our time, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s been a month, but it feels like a week and a year at the same time.

Something I loved about this trip was the fact that I was exposed to USC students I would have otherwise never known. Last year, doing mostly theatre classes, I didn’t meet that many people outside my major, and even then, I didn’t put in as much time as I could have to cultivate relationships with those who didn’t share my interests. On this trip, I could make connections with people whose interests lie far from my own, and I loved seeing new perspectives. In class, I had moments of awe as my classmates shared pearls of wisdom, and it’s so cool seeing how our individual interests translate to the topic at hand.

Connecting with my classmates on this trip has also brought me new experiences I would have never had like going to niche restaurants, enriching museums, and interesting boutiques. Opening myself up to these new experiences made my time in both cities all the more enjoyable, and I’m so grateful that everyone shared themselves with each other. There were so many times when I felt directionless, and if it wasn’t for my classmates’ spreadsheets and wish lists who knows what I would have missed!

But I think what has felt the most unreal about this trip was simply the feeling of walking the streets in London and Paris. The curvy twists and turns of Paris’ boulevards felt like a hug as I wandered aimlessly; never bored and always looking for the next thing to do. It really felt like surprises lay in every corner. On our excursions, it was always so fun when we’d have a goal to find, then when we reached it we’d simply wander the area. Knowing the history behind the streets I was walking made the shops and restaurants I went to feel all the more special, as I imagined what those same places may have looked like centuries ago.

Bookpacking requires an active imagination. When you go outside looking for the real life settings of fictional novels, you have to be creative as you fill in the gaps. This was a fun challenge for me, and although at times it was difficult, the moments where I really “got it” were extremely rewarding.

I had one of those moments in Paris outside of a church, where a tree was placed right where Hugo described it in Les Misérables. Using the tree as a starting point, I could fill the rest of the street using my imagination—filling in the blanks to see it as Hugo described.  At times, you feel silly— getting excited about a tree—but once you give into the geekiness it’s such a fun experience.

With this class now done, I want to take the curious, imaginative nature of backpacking with me to my everyday life. Whether I use a novel, a movie, or a song as my reference, I want to go on little scavenger hunts around the world. I’m already thinking about the countless places I can go in LA that are mentioned in my favorite pieces of media, and I’m excited to geek out over them. This class has encouraged me to experience the world without the need for action. A simple stroll can be exciting if you make it that way. Bookpacking is about experiencing the world as it is while comparing it to what it’s been to those before you.