Standing on the platform at St Pancras, people rush past as trains hum in the distance whilst my heart pounds within my chest. Passport in hand, I step on to the Eurostar resigned to not looking at my waving family in the distance as tears roll silently down my cheeks. This is an adventure that I chose, I remind myself softly, as fear briefly roots me to my place until a man motions impatiently for me to take my seat.
As I stare wistfully out of the window at the only home I have ever known, my phone buzzes silently with a stream of messages from my mum and dad wishing me luck. Studying abroad has always been a faraway dream of mine, a rehearsed response when asked about my future plans from inquisitive relatives at birthday parties, but the train announcement that we will soon be arriving at Paris Gare du Nord reminds me that this is now my reality.
Glancing at my unfamiliar surroundings, I breathe deeply and join the bustling crowds, becoming just a dot in the sea of people. Yet, as I weave through the surge of people, battered suitcase rattling behind me on the tiled floor, I become increasingly aware that travel is not just about movement, but impact. Each journey, and visitor, leaves behind its trace, whether that be the relationships we form, the communities and the environment we interact with.
Choosing the Eurostar over flying was a practical choice, but standing in the heart of a city built upon public transport, walkability and shared spaces, I begin to understand that sustainability is not just restrictive measures imposed by faraway governments, but a shared responsibility between visitors and their host country. The metro will be my gateway to exploring unknown arrondissements, my new campus and the means of connection with new friends dotted around the city.
Perched on a bench in the lush and green Jardin du Luxembourg, I am reminded of the lectures in mutual respect during endless pre-departure meetings and its application to both the culture and environment I am experiencing. I want to leave my mark on Paris through immersing myself in its contemporary ‘mode de vie’, but my dream must not come at the cost of the environment around me.
This is why over the following weeks, I am determined to embed sustainability in my daily practices, to promote these values in small but meaningful ways. Navigating the streets of Paris by foot and metro rather than relying upon unnecessary taxi rides, exploring local markets at the weekend to replace the endless cycle of consumption; sustainable practices shaping my movements. Living abroad teaches me that sustainability extends beyond environmental awareness alone but is reflected in the respect that we show towards the communities and spaces we temporarily call home. After a year traipsing the streets of Paris, I hope that I will be leaving behind not damage, but understanding; and bringing home wonderful memories, not departing with a heavy footprint.
