I honestly never thought I would be studying and traveling around the world at age 20, AND with a Cuban passport. Living in isolation for most of my life made me develop an intense desire for exploring and experiencing the wonders of the worlds once only available to me in history books. Not only that, I was also able to reunite with my childhood friend in France, with whom I spent my first week before incorporating to my program in Italy. I had a very nice time in Provence (Southeastern part of France). We visited Marseille (Second largest city in France) , Avignon (where the Popes once stayed and built a palace), and Gorges de la Nesque (a very beautiful mountain range). I enjoyed the French cuisine, and even spent a whole night doing astronomy observations of the clear sky with a very powerful telescope. I will be spending another week after my study abroad in Italy is over.