They say when you’re trying to learn a new language, the best (and fastest) way to become completely fluent is through immersion. Whether that’s moving to a different country, attending a school taught in another language, or surrounding yourself with native speakers, you need to immerse yourself, leaving your own language behind, to truly learn. I would argue, after this experience, that the same is true for literature. Head to the site where your story takes place, head to your classroom each morning, surround yourself with English majors and an endlessly knowledgeable professor, and leave behind your preconceptions and completely unrelated field of study.

Over the past month, I have been running around London and Paris, doing just that. Immersing myself. Now, as I wait for the flight I am absurdly early for at CDG, I finally have a chance to mentally unpack what this experience has taught me. For starters, I feel like I know London and Paris like the back of my hand. I am now a seasoned metro/underground user (if I do say so myself), and I have learned to embrace the art of the Flaneûr. I’m still not the biggest fan of museums, but my curiosity about each little thing I pass on the street has grown immensely. All it takes is a quick google search when you see an interesting building and all of a sudden you can dive into 200 years of history – amazing!

If you told me a year ago that I would take a Bookpacking class, I’d tell you you were crazy. This is not to say that I didn’t like the idea of traveling to a new place and getting to enjoy a book through this intense lens, it’s more that I never thought I’d get the opportunity to do something like this. In my major, reading a book academically is a rarity, and during the year, I have to be very selective with the general ed classes I choose to take to allow for some leeway with my difficult course load. Without the Julymester option I probably would have fulfilled this requirement with something far more simple, and what a loss that would have been. Coming into this program, I was incredibly nervous about how I would perform in a class of this nature, and I was equally terrified that I might not make friends or enjoy my time as much as I had hoped. Honestly, I could not have been more wrong. I am leaving this program with a lot more confidence in literature, a deep understanding of A Tale of Two Cities and Les Misérables and the cities where they call home, and friendships that will last a lifetime. I am incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to do this scary thing and find that it wasn’t so scary after all.

One of my favorite explorations was our trip to the Palace of Versailles, where I got to immerse myself in what it may have been like to be a royal in the 18th century. My friends and I walked the extensive gardens, both in disbelief at the scale of the whole place and excited to see what was around the next bend. We even rented a paddle boat and floated around the Grand Canal of Versailles. This was one of many moments where I found myself doing things I couldn’t have thought to plan in advance. Spontaneity in our free time was something I have thoroughly enjoyed.

Another exploration that I (in part) enjoyed was the Museum of the Sewers. I would have stayed down there in the sewer for much longer if it didn’t smell quite so unbearable. It was amazing to see the progression of the sewers over several decades, and imagining Jean Valjean carrying Marius through those gross passages gave me an all-new respect for him and his good deed. Hugo mentions that Valjean could hardly keep his head above the water in the sewers… are you kidding me? I would have passed out by then from the smell alone, let alone carrying someone through such disgusting conditions. Interestingly, though, the sewers museum is right by where the pair emerged (finally) back to fresh air. Oh, the joys of bookpacking! To know that you are standing exactly where Hugo’s filthy characters once were is truly a unique feeling.

Back in London, I enjoyed so many of our explorations. One day in particular stands out, the day when we got to go to Borough Market and visit Tellson’s bank (in its new location). At borough market, I got a chance to get a sense of contemporary culture in London. It was absolutely packed with locals, tourists, extensive food markets, and delicious cuisines. I got a Japanese rice bowl and the tiktok-famous chocolate strawberries, and both of them were so delicious. After that, we walked along the Thames to a couple of other sites, and we ended our exploration at Tellson’s bank, which has moved from its original position (after a quick detour to the countryside,` interestingly enough). It was a perfect day to blend the contemporary London I love so much to the London that Dickens’ characters experienced. 

The past month has been exhausting, enriching, challenging, and full of new experiences and a whole lot of laughter. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to meet a whole group of new friends and get to explore London and Paris through such a close and unique lens, and I can’t wait to someday return and revisit the memories I’ve made. Thanks so much for following along! Now…onto my 14 hour flight and a brand new semester!