When looking back on all the cities we stayed in, my favorite was Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France. The experience itself was one I cannot even put into words. From the moment we arrived, I knew it was going to be my favorite city. The scenic view was beyond beautiful.
Once I saw the vast French Alps, I was jumping with excitement. I’m very big on hiking, therefore, I knew this city would have plenty of hiking activities for me. Once we arrived to Chamonix, I took a stroll to see what else it had to offer. While walking around, I noticed everything was very close by; the food-market, laundry, restaurants, bars and all other essential stores. It was a very convenient area because everything was walking distance. My friends and I didn’t need to pay for any transportation the entire stay; unless of course one planned on taking the gondola up the French Alps.
There were numerous activities to choose from; such as mountain biking (offered by the hotel for free), paragliding, hiking, sightseeing and so much more. Since I’m such a hike fanatic, over the weekend a few of the students and I decided to go on a hike up the French Alps. About ten of us took the gondola over to the first mountain and took plenty of gorgeous scenic pictures of the mountains. After pictures, we separated from the group and only three of us decided to go on a hiking excursion. While hiking, we ran into many tourists/locals who were much older than us who were fully geared. We were very surprised to see how fit everyone was for their age. Here’s a tip to future Forum-Nexus students: if you plan on hiking, make sure you are wearing proper attire. My hiking buddies and I also ran into three deer, which at one point, lead us to the right path on the hike. Overall, the hike will be an unforgettable memory that I will always carry with me.
Another reason why I loved Chamonix was because it was a place you could relax. You’re surrounded with beautiful nature, the hotel had a swimming pool and spa- which after lots of traveling, is exactly what you’re looking for. In addition, it was really great to have classes held in the conference room of the hotel. Having classes there allowed us to get more sleep since we didn’t need to take transportation to a university. Also, since Chamonix was such a small area, all of the students bonded and went out together. Either that or you would run into your classmates while out and about which was always nice. Chamonix was my favorite city on the Forum-Nexus study abroad trip. I would definitely come back and visit multiple times, especially during ski season!
By: Jowita Chomentowska, Forum-Nexus 2014 Alumna
