By Dominic DiLuzio, Staff Writer
One of my biggest flaws is anxiety about new experiences: I need to know everything about a new place, down to the layout of the room and the arrangement of the seats. While preparing to leave for France in August, I had none of this. So, instead of fooling you with unrealistic pictures of chateaus and wine and fresh-baked bread, I’m here to offer you a realistic glimpse at my time so far to prepare you for your own travels. I hope I’m not too cynical.
Dominic DiLuzio ’26 is spending the semester in Aix-en-Provence, France.
Language Shock
Upon my arrival at Charles de Gaulle, I watched an airport employee speak English to another person. I approached him and, when I asked in English where the train station was, I was hollered at for not being able to speak French. While this may just be a manifestation of the French stereotype, it’s not unique to France. If you don’t speak the language of your host country, be prepared for quite a difficult first week. Jet lag combined with an inability to communicate with the people around you is a disastrous combination. You’ll learn, though.
Daily Dehydration
Water is a commodity in much of Europe. Not only is it not automatically served at restaurants, but when you do ask for it, you get a teeny, puny little glass. I am still working on figuring out how people here are not constantly shriveled up like a dry sponge. Ice seems to be a foreign concept, and to drink tap water is to have descended to sub-humanity. You will be walking pretty much everywhere — have a water bottle, and never show up to a restaurant thirsty. Be prepared to shell out upwards of 5 bucks for a bottle, and don’t get me started on the showers here.
The European Diet
Americans tend to think that Europeans are thin and healthy because their food isn’t full of chemicals and microplastics. While, yes, this is true, this isn’t the reason Europeans are thin. It is because they barely eat anything whatsoever. Portion sizes here are essentially appetizers, and you will be in an almost constant state of hunger. Be okay with being hungry. But, the food (when you actually get it) meets and exceeds my expectations. In fact, my Servo-induced acid reflux has been absent for months now, and, although hungry, I am very happy!
Travel
You can get a plane ticket to Italy for 40 bucks, roundtrip. Anyone who calls a city unsafe is probably ill-informed, and anyone who warns of “aggressive pickpockets” probably watched a TikTok of a not-so-smart person who carried their phone in their back pocket (don’t do this). Have street smarts and enjoy the flaws in the plans. However, do not go clubbing in Barcelona — you still have your dignity.
You Fly, Time Flies
In addition to the motorbikes, electric bikes, electric scooters, mopeds and minuscule “cars”, time here has no conception of a speed limit. At no other point in your life will you be able to jet off to Bulgaria for a weekend and to Mallorca the next (international relations majors: relax, even the diplomatic corps has responsibilities). Enjoy it. Book the trip, drink the wine, go to the ‘weird’ country. Hate to say it, but school is secondary — if Gettysburg really cares about being a “global citizen,” they’ll understand. Leave the anxious and worrywart you stateside and enjoy life over here. Don’t forget to enjoy your host city though; travel every weekend, but spend time during the week laughing at tourists, because hell, you’re a local now.
I hope that this is of some help to you. As long as you show up on this continent with a large water bottle, Google Translate, a suppressed appetite and a free spirit, you’ll be fine.
My recommendations: avoid Lisbon, visit Switzerland, always watch your pockets and don’t hesitate to take advantage of universal healthcare on an especially sickening Sunday morning.
This article originally appeared on page 6 of the No. 1 December 2024 edition of The Gettysburgian magazine.
