Grenoble Writes In
If you had asked me last year what I would be doing during my senior fall, I, like many others, would have said something about college apps, a fall sport, clubs and classes. In short, I thought that I would still be on the “Exeter grind.” I would have never responded that I’d be in Grenoble, France. But, as it turns out, sometimes what is not planned ends up working in your favor. I write this as I sit on my couch, next to my host brothers, eating a Tarte à la Tomate and watching “Marseillais contre le reste du monde,” arguably both the best and worst reality show I have ever watched.
What I am doing right now, I think, sums up my experience here. Why? Well, when I think about a host family, a French reality TV show and a Swiss recipe, the only word that comes to mind to describe all three is unknown. Just eight weeks ago, my host family was only a group of strangers, a Tarte à la Tomate was nothing more than something similar to pizza and “Marseillais contre le reste du monde” was just a show I could not understand without subtitles.
It was this combination of unknowns that propelled me out of a comfort zone I thought I had already surpassed. In just eight weeks, my host family became one of the nicest people I have ever met, la Tarte à la Tomate became my favorite dish and “Marseillais contre le reste du monde” became a weekly activity that allowed me to bond with my host sister.
I came to Grenoble ready to learn something new every day. Whether that was slang, French songs or authors I had not yet heard of, I was ready to take in information from those around me. I was ready to observe, participate and grasp as much as I could. I wasn’t expecting that my time in Grenoble would be such a period of self-discovery. I ended up learning a lot more about myself—from food preferences to the way I approach difficult situations—and the reflection allowed me to embrace a slower-paced lifestyle and appreciate the details I used to overlook.
Here, I have become much more interested in art. Now, I find museum visits—something I dreaded before—rather pleasant. In class, I finally understood how to analyze a work of art by putting all the pieces of the puzzle together to truly understand a painting. And, of course, I was able to see the works of art I had only ever heard about in stories and articles—La Joconde, La Venise de Milo, La Coronation de Napoléon and Les Noces de Cana. I discovered a new way to learn about history through the values that historical events embody, rather than through the figures and dates that represent them. Finally, I learned how much I dislike French literature. No offense, Voltaire.
When I go back to campus, I hope to see things in the same way I have in Grenoble. I encourage anyone who is considering going abroad to take advantage of the opportunity. In the end, not many high schoolers are fortunate enough to partake in this type of activity. It will be, for sure, an experience that you will cherish forever.