Fox School of Business at Temple University

I'm taking a moment to brag about the amazing weather these past couple of weeks. The sun is out and I couldn't be happier. Studying abroad in the Spring is definitely an investment the first few months. You come in the dead of winter excited to start exploring, but all these new and fun experiences are a bit aggravated by the harsh weather. It's hard to make it to 8am classes when it's still pitch black out, and going out at night can be a pain with the bitter walk home to look forward to. The good part is, it only gets better and better. I'm seeing a whole new Paris from a couple months back - not everyone looks the same in a dark jacket, more cafes are spilling out onto sidewalks, the parks are dotted with picnic blankets, and the flowers are blooming beautifully. I'm discovering a lot more cool shops, monuments, and cafes now that I don't rush past to make it home and out of the cold. The sun makes colors stand out more as well, so I've noticed that Paris has a lot more grass than I gave it credit for. One of my favorite days here so far was a sunny Saturday a couple weeks ago. I joined a bunch of friends at a non-touristy park for a French-style picnic. The park was at the end of a metro line, with huge grassy hills and playgrounds - quite different from the manicured gardens all over Paris. We enjoyed baguettes with cheeses and spreads, fruit, and wine all afternoon and evening. Unfortunately, it's still Paris and there are many rainy days to come, but at least everything is just a bit more colorful :)