♡ Real Talk... Moving/Foreign Exchange ♡

Hey guys!

I figured it was about time that I talk to you about some stuff that I know many of you deal with or will have to in the future. So now, I'm starting this new 'series' type of thing called Real Talk where I'll talk to you about something. As you can tell by the title this first one is about moving...

Back story first, I have quite the track record when it comes to moving. I've lived in a few different countries and switched schools several times so trust my advice on this, ok? My first big move was to the USA and I was very young so I don't remember it too well. I remember not speaking the language and how hard it was at first. But after a few months I'd already learned english and everything was swell once again!

But when I moved from the USA to Brazil, I was already a teenager and let me tell you... It was HARD. I had a whole life back in the US, I had great friends, a boyfriend type of thing, I loved my school, I had everything. Meanwhile, I had nothing in Brazil and I'd forgotten most of my Portuguese since I had spoken english for the past 8 years. I spent a very long time denying that I was back, I'd focus strictly on my life back in America and wouldn't do anything in Brazil. I'd spend the entire year counting down to the day when I'd go visit. I closed myself off from meeting new people because I was in denial.

It took me a year or two of struggling and being unhappy to figure out that the only problem was me. I was denying myself from participating, from making new friends and from being happy. So I decided to try. In a few months, I'd already made new friends and I had plans every weekend. Life was good once again. So don't be afraid to put yourself out there! People are nicer than we tend to think, most people won't reject you. Don't focus on your old life, work on making your new life the best it can be.

Now, after that I moved to France and it was a little different. Once again, I didn't speak the language but I was already 17 and knew who I was. I'd already had the experience of living in a different country. But this time around I didn't have my parents with me. Making friends was easy, if you're a foreign exchange student it's likely that you'll bond with other exchange students. They're the only ones who fully understand what you're going through. Some of the people I met during this time are people I consider my best friends. It also helps you figure out who your real friends are back home.

Getting used to a new culture, a new routine is difficult but if you're considering foreign exchange it's something you have to do. My advice is don't be afraid. Don't be afraid to talk to people, to ask for help, to try new things, to speak the language, to make mistakes, to share how you really feel. Just don't be afraid. Your fear is what will hold you back so get comfortable with being uncomfortable. At the end of the day, the whole experience is extremely rewarding and you'll come back with new friends, new stories, a home away from home and you'll be a new you. More responsible and more independent. Take it from me, it's hard. But it's also one of the best things you'll ever do.

I hope this was helpful to some of you, if you have any questions don't be afraid to ask me!

♡ Paris, je t'aime ♡

In order to make up for my slightly depressing last post, I'm going to be sharing a couple pictures from my trip to Paris... Don't be fooled, I am a whopping three hour train ride away from Paris so no, I am not close. But I did spend a day there and, unfortunately, it was raining but that doesn't mean I loved it any less. Anyways, I'll stop my yapping and show y'all some pics from the trip...

To go along with this post, check out the song above! It's a ukulele cover of the song La vie en rose, it was on the TV show How I Met Your Mother, which is one of my favorites!

The view from Sacrécoeur

L'arc du triomphe

Le Tour Eiffel

La cathédrale Notre Dame

Le Louvre

The Louvre's geotag, in case you were wondering

I think that's about it.... Have you ever been to Paris?

À trés bientôt!

♡ Everything Changed... ♡

Last time I blogged my life was completely different and that is something so difficult to grasp that I can barely describe it. By my last post, some of you may be aware of that fact that I have moved... I'm now living in southern France and my world has turned upside down, in both a good and bad way..

I remember being at home and dreaming about this experience and I'd think to myself that it'll be amazing and I'll have all the freedom/independence I've ever wanted. I, truly, do but I never gave much thought to the consequences that would come with this. Like missing everyone at home so much that it physically hurts... Not to get all poetic and stuff but it's a feeling I've never experienced to such extent... It feels like my heart is so tight in my chest that it'll implode.. Not explode, implode. 

The whole experience changes you, there's no way that it won't. You can feel yourself changing and maturing and you're not sure if it's for the best or for the worst. Personally, I spend lots of time wondering if when I go home in a few months if my friends will recognize me when I go home. Not physically but personality-wise... I used to get angry at the smallest things but now I learned that I need to learn to keep my cool because if I were to get upset over everything, I'd always be sad and I'd take away nothing from this experience. 

It's strange because there's things that I miss that I NEVER thought I would. For example, fighting with my mother... I know it's terrible but my mother and I used to fight everyday and now when we talk we only tell each the good stuff because we want to spare each other feelings but I secretly wish that she'd yell at me for not cleaning my room or for throwing my wet towel on my bed. Just those little things. I also miss hanging out with my friends at Starbucks and drinking iced coffee all afternoon. But I'm excited to hug them when I get back since absence really does make the heart grow fonder.

I know I don't usually make personal posts but I figured I should start making more posts like this since after all, I am not only a beauty/fashion blogger but also lifestyle and who knows? Potentially a bit more travel as well..

Let me know in the comments how you're doing! Have you ever lived abroad? If so, what was it like?

Thanks for reading!