SAI Reflection

Skylar Eddy

Coming to France has been a real adjustment to not only to college, but also just life in

general. Stepping out into a new city every day to a language that you are still learning can be

challenging, but in the same sense amazing. I am creating new memories every moment I am

out in this new world experiencing things for the first time. One thing I did not know before

coming to Paris was that plastic bags were banned. My first time at a grocery store was a bit

chaotic because of this. I went to the local Monoprix to buy groceries after only being in the city

for two days. Along with my roommate, we checked out, trying to only carry the necessities yet

our arms were overflowing with food and supplies. As I went up the cash register, I realized I

didn’t even know what to say to the clerk. I muttered a bonjour and put my food on the

counter. She asked me something and I froze, unsure of what she had asked me. I asked her to

repeat and finally understood that she was asking if I had a bag. I answered no and she filled my

groceries into two small paper bags. I walked out of the store and the moment I stepped

outside the first bag broke, then the second one. The bags were meant for one of two items in

it, not ten in each. My roommate’s bags stayed intact so I had to walk in again by myself to ask

for some more bags. The clerk saw that I was struggling and got me a bag. She kindly gave me a

large reusable bag, and I thanked her profusely. Not until after this event did I find out that

these bags cost money, yet the women graciously gave it to me for free. Being in a new city

with a new language barrier can be scary, but I have found with my first weeks of being here

that the people around me are willing to help as I learn my way around.