Temps Bien Passé: Observations on Change

By Micah Bessette

Published April 21, 2026

I leave France in a week, and I still struggle to wrap my mind around the fact that I’m even here at all. This semester has been both the quickest and longest of my life, and I have trouble reflecting on everything that I’ve been through. I feel like these four months will remain isolated in my mind as separate from the rest of my college experience, as it has been so vastly different from anything that has ever happened to me, and it feels weirdly conclusive because I know most of the people I’ve met here won’t see me again, at least not for a long time.  

Something I’m honestly super curious about is the reverse culture shock I’ll experience when I come back to the States, as I feel it will be more significant than my initial culture shock in France. That’s a topic for the next article though. For now, I’ll reflect on the thoughts I’ve been having recently, as there are many.  

First, though, I need to explain the movie scene of a week I just had. If you haven’t been keeping up, I started a band here (shoutout Glitterally Epic Lobster Peel). One of my friends in the band has an apartment on the coast of France, and we recently spent a few days there. We brought our instruments to the beach during sunset, had a picnic dinner, and then played music until our fingers got numb from the cold. That moment felt so freeing, and it reminded me of the strange and beautiful places that life will take you if you’re able to live in the moment. Then a few days later, I took a solo day trip to a cute town near Pau called Lourdes, completely unaware of a small mountain next to it. As a self-proclaimed hiking enthusiast, I decided I needed to climb that mountain, fully disregarding my attire of skate shoes, a sweater vest, a tote bag, and a tie. It resulted in what felt like someone’s Pinterest board and a lot of weird stares from fellow hikers. It also reminded me about how some of my fondest memories have come out of spontaneity; take from that what you will. 

Aside from my little adventures and sidequests, I’ve been reflecting a lot. Obviously, this semester has changed me. I think I’m more relaxed in terms of rules and deadlines. I’m more willing to just go with the flow. Changes like these are easy to observe, however. The changes that I’m curious to discover haven’t necessarily come into being yet. During my time here, I’ve been surrounded by strangers who became my friends. This means that they weren’t able to see the ways I’ve changed because they’ve only ever known this version of me. When I go back to the states and reconnect with my friends and family, I think that’s when the real changes will be obvious. I don’t think I like or dislike this version of me anymore than the version I was before, but I’m certainly different in a way. It’s a weird thing to think about because it is quite a unique experience. 

I’ve also been thinking about changes in terms of friendships. I feel like the deepest connections I’ve made have come unexpectedly and when I wasn’t looking for them, but that also makes them incredibly difficult to let go of. Change hurts, but I think without it we’d all be bored. I recently came to the difficult decision that I’m not returning to Plymouth next year, so I’ve been thinking about how my relationships will change in the coming months.  

Sometimes I wish I could exist in every nook and cranny of the world, and that I could experience complete presence surrounded by everyone who has existed, but alas I only exist as I am, so I will try my best to be present for the people whom I love. Be honest about who you love and make time for them. I think connection is the reason for it all, so love with everything you have.