Returning to the City of Love
Myrta Santana-Santini standing in a museum while abroad in Europe. (Photo supplied by Myrta Santana-Santini)
Last year, an astounding number of nearly 90 million tourists visited the beautiful City of Love, a.k.a. the City of Lights: Paris.
Paris is famous for its stunning architecture, café culture, delicious pastries, unique fashion trends, and, most importantly, its romance. It is hard to miss Paris when traveling abroad in Europe.
For Myrta Santana-Santini ‘21, Paris was a city she was definitely not going to miss. Myrta's mother visited Paris while pregnant with her, and she was determined to return to the same streets her mother once walked. And now, on her study abroad trip, she is able to do just that.
Myrta tells us the story of her “first time in Paris,” she said.
“I always remember thinking about the places I wanted to travel to… My parents always told me that I had already ‘traveled’ because when they went to Paris, I was in my mom’s belly.”
She mentions that the trip was actually a business trip for the company her mother worked for. However, that didn’t matter because the trip still holds a special place in their memories, as it was their first vacation after becoming parents to Myrta’s older brothers.
Myrta did not expect to be taken by the experience or feel anything while she was there. “But, it did impact me,” Myrta said. “I felt like I had been there. I felt safe and comfortable even though I didn’t know the language. I don’t know, it just felt right.”
One of her favorite memories took place right near the renowned bookstore Shakespeare and Company. Myrta was even excited to see a poet, Leo Skala, stationed outside the bookstore with a sign saying "ask for a poem." Of course, she asked for one.
“When I told him what I wanted my poem to be about, he smiled and said, ‘I can work with that.’ Seeing him come up with the poem in the moment will definitely be one of my favorite memories from abroad. I saw art in the making, and the end product was amazing. [The poem] made my parents cry,” she said.
The poem written for Myrta Santana-Santini. (Photo supplied by Myrta Santana-Santini)
In her journeys from Paris to other parts of Europe, Myrta is learning and exploring. She is on a rollercoaster of emotions but continues to flourish. She speaks about having the opportunity to learn more about herself, make new friendships, step out of her comfort zone, and experience newfound independence.
Traveling abroad is listed in most of our bucket lists. Elon University has the privilege of having more than 100 programs around the world with 84% of its students traveling abroad at least once. And thus, Elon continues to be ranked #1 for study abroad by the Institute of International Education year after year.
Traveling is not only a chance to explore the places we dream of and take pictures but a chance to make memories—memories that are filled with both our growing friendships and our own growth as individuals in new environments.
Myrta said she is grateful for the opportunity to experience this familiar place that holds a spot in her heart. This opportunity has allowed her to be independent with a greater appreciation for the City of Love.
Myrta Santana-Santini standing in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, AKA the City of Love. (Photo supplied by Myrta Santana-Santini)