The streets of Paris were loud, crowded, and overwhelming. Emiliana had just watched her mother leave, realizing for the first time she was truly on her own in a foreign country. The honking cars, the rush of strangers speaking a language she didn’t fully understand, and the weight of her suitcase made her feel both nervous and exposed, but that didn’t take her away from her encouragement of being alone and in the beautiful Paris. Days later, though, she stood at the edge of a barricade, heart pounding as cyclists flew past in a blur of color. The same city that once felt intimidating was beginning to feel like her own.

For Emiliana, Paris was more than just a postcard-perfect trip. Traveling mostly alone, she learned to navigate a foreign city, reconnect with a best friend, and face challenges that tested her independence. Her story is about more than sightseeing—it’s about the moments of freedom, connection, new opportunities, and self-discovery that shaped her time in one of the world’s most iconic cities.

Emiliana’s decision to visit Paris was fueled by both nostalgia and excitement. “I wanted to visit Paris because I had already been there in October, and I liked it so much I wanted to come back,” she said. This time, she decided to stay longer, giving herself the opportunity to explore on her own terms.

At first, her trip wasn’t completely alone; her mother joined her for the first three days before returning home. “After my mom left, I stayed alone, and it gave me the chance to experience Paris in a new way,” Emiliana explained. The city felt different without family by her side, but the change opened new doors.

One of those doors came through, an unexpected reunion. While exploring, she discovered that her best friend Luciana was also in Paris on vacation with her family. “It was so amazing because we weren’t expecting it, but we got to spend time together,” Emiliana said. They even went to see a professional bicycle race, cheering at the finish line, an experience Emiliana described as unforgettable.

The race became one of the highlights of her trip. “It was a very famous thing, and I had watched it on TV before. Seeing it in person was so amazing,” she said. The energy of the crowd and the speed of the cyclists left her with a memory she would carry long after returning home. It was an experience that for a long time she had watched on TV, and for he,r living that experience in real life left her a mark.

Food also played a major role in her Paris adventure. Emiliana recalled tasting traditional French dishes like escargot and entrecôte. “My favorite dish was the entrecôte,” she said, smiling. “I had already tried it before at home, but eating it in the country it comes from was completely different.” For her, food became a way to connect with Paris on a deeper level, turning meals into moments of discovery and delicious new plates.

Not everything was perfect, though. Emiliana admitted she struggled with a difficult roommate situation. “We didn’t get along and had a lot of fights,” she said. Still, she explained that the tension didn’t ruin the trip, since the roommate eventually left early. Instead, the challenge gave her a lesson in patience and resilience.

Paris, like any great city, is both beautiful and complex. For Emiliana, it became a place of independence, growth, and being able to watch and analyze new opportunities and watch out for the possibility of studying in Paris. From reconnecting with friends to handling conflicts on her own, she learned what it meant to travel not just as a tourist, but as a young adult navigating responsibility. Her trip mirrors what many teenagers face when they step outside their comfort zones, finding out who they are when the world feels bigger than ever.

Paris, like any great city, is both beautiful and complex. For Emiliana, it became a place of independence, growth, and being able to watch and analyze new opportunities and watch out for the possibility of studying in Paris. From reconnecting with friends to handling conflicts on her own, she learned what it meant to travel not just as a tourist, but as a young adult navigating responsibility. Her trip mirrors what many teenagers face when they step outside their comfort zones, finding out who they are when the world feels bigger than ever.