Temps Bien Passé: Finding New Roads

By Micah Bessette

Published March 12, 2026

Spring has sprung in Pau, and I’m here for it! Since my last column, I’ve visited Italy and Morocco, hiked a mountain, and started a band here in France. I have so many stories and thoughts about the past month, but those would all take way too long, so I’ll just share the highlights as well as some things I’ve learned about myself and the world. 

First, on connections. I’ve always considered myself a super extroverted person and never really struggled making friends. Going abroad, I was glad about this, as it made the adjustment a little easier for me. Not everyone is like me though, and there will inevitably be times in life when you’re pulled away from friends and loved ones and will have to learn to build new connections. I understand that it can be scary – I love to overthink things – but making that first move, talking to a stranger or complimenting someone’s outfit, will begin a connection that could take you to places you would never expect. I wouldn’t have gone to Morocco had I not built a connection with some students in my program. I might be naive or overly optimistic, but I really believe that life can make things work if you put in some effort. 

Now onto weekend trips. I’m certainly privileged to have been able to save money to travel during the semester, but I’m realizing just how possible travel is if you’re really determined. I’ve heard so many people talk about how they want to travel when they’re older and ‘have money,’ but if you plan it right, you can travel now while you’re young and have energy. Staying in hostels, booking sketchy flights, and buying cheap street food, while maybe not ideal, will allow you to travel on a budget and have incredible experiences. In Italy, I visited Florence, Pisa, Milan, Luca and Lake Como, which was genuinely one of the most tranquil places I’ve been to (considering it was winter and there were no tourists). The vibrant buildings stretching into the mountains surrounding the lake, the swans swimming around the boats, and the gentle sunlight beaming down, all made this an experience I would highly recommend if you ever plan to visit Italy. For the rest of the trip, I was lucky enough to stay with my friends studying in Florence, and we got to take day trips into some of the surrounding cities (Pisa is overrated to be honest). I’ve always been the type to go on trips without much planned and just see where the path takes me, but this trip taught me that having an itinerary isn’t always a bad thing, as it allows you some sort of mission or objective to focus on. 

After Italy, I took my first ever solo hike and learned a lot about leisure time alone. For activities like hiking or general adventuring, I typically go with a buddy or two. I’m used to having someone to talk to, and someone to pace myself with. I was worried I would get bored while hiking by myself, but I realized I had so many thoughts to unpack and nature was the perfect place to ponder. I wrote little poems in my head and hummed tunes, and I even brought my journal to write some of my thoughts during the trek. The trail I took was honestly quite sketchy, so being able to go at my own pace honestly helped put me at ease. 

Morocco was insane and while I didn’t learn much about myself, it was the first time I got to see a culture drastically different from what I’ve seen in the United States. The food in Marrakesh was honestly some of the best I’ve ever had, I got to ride a camel, and I watched the sun set in the desert! 

Finally, on maintaining relationships. One of my biggest concerns coming here was staying in touch with all my friends and family (miss you guys). I often say to my friends I wish I could stay connected with everyone I’ve ever known, and while that’s not necessarily possible, maintaining connections is very doable. Even just shooting a simple ‘how are you’ text can go so far. Plan a call or even just send pictures of what you’ve been up to. If you miss someone, don’t be afraid to tell them. Chances are the feeling is reciprocated (though be careful with your exes on this one). You shouldn’t be afraid to love, and missing someone is a natural part of that.