Les Temps Bien Passé: Settling In
By Micah Bessette
Published February 22, 2026
Salut! If you know me at all you’ve probably heard an obnoxious number of times that I’m studying in the south of France this semester. I want to stay up to date writing for The Clock, but being informed of the news and happenings in Plymouth is tough while I’m across an ocean, so I’ve decided it’s high time I try my hand at a travel blog of sorts!
This is a part one of a series where I will recount my adventures while abroad, talk about what I’ve learned, and give general life advice where I see fit (though who’s to say whether I’m qualified in that field). I’d love to answer questions about being abroad or anything really if you have them. Feel free to DM The Clock on Instagram with any questions you may have!
I’m currently studying in the city of Pau, France, for the Spring semester. I’m studying at the university here through a program called the University Studies Abroad Consortium, and I’m staying with a local host family. My class load is French intensive, with four out of five of my classes being French-focused, and so far, I’ve met so many amazing people from literally all over the world. The city of Pau is magnificent, with a stunning view of the Pyrenees mountain range visible from downtown, a friendly and accommodating local culture, and gorgeous European architecture everywhere, including an actual castle right next to downtown.
I’ve done a lot in the time that I’ve been here so far. I’ve eaten so much amazing local food, experienced the nightlife in Toulouse, visited a mountain town in Spain, skied during a snowstorm, and saw all the attractions in Paris. But my favorite parts have been the small, unplanned excursions.
Taking a long walk around the city with no objective, only to see what I could find, has stuck out to me as the most present I’ve been while here. I felt no stress about making it to a destination on time or having a responsibility to see a certain attraction. I was just free to be. I think, from a tourist’s perspective, the best thing you can do while traveling is to give yourself some free, unrestricted time. Seeing all the museums and doing the ‘touristy’ things is always fun, but if you’re able to just wander with no purpose, you’ll likely find true beauty wherever you are. Stumble down a random alley and find an old record shop or take a ‘wrong turn’ and end up with a panoramic view of the mountains. Just be.
I’ve also noticed an interesting pattern while being immersed in a different language. I’ve been taking French classes on and off since the end of middle school, but I’ve never practiced the language consistently enough to actually improve a whole lot. Now that the majority of my classes are teaching me French and my host family almost exclusively speaks in French, I’m understanding the language a lot more. The interesting thing about that, though, is that it takes me much longer to process what I’m trying to say in French. Before, I would just say what I thought was correct and probably be wrong. Now, if I make a mistake, I’ll notice it and try to correct it. This means that I have to speak much more slowly to actually catch all the grammatical discrepancies.
Anyway, I’ve got several more months here, so I’ll keep you updated on all of my happenings. À toute à l’heure!