Submitted by Amelia Ritter on the 2018 winter session study abroad program in France sponsored by the Department of Art…
Over the course of this month, I’ve found friendship in strangers. While on my way to Amsterdam for the long weekend break, we had over three hours to kill. Being over prepared and used to US security checks I showed up way too early to the train station. For a little while, I busied myself with an electric bicycle that charged your phone while you biked, but then I found a public piano. Different people were going up to play a song before their train left and others stood watching, like me, to pass the time. While standing there, a girl my age approached me and asked if I was in line to use the piano. Her name is Stephanie and we discussed the basics that all train station waiters have in common; her destination was Brussels and then she was on to Amsterdam and then London and she had only been in Paris for a few days. Originally from sunny California, Stephanie was enjoying her adventure abroad alone and was thoroughly excited about all her destinations. While in France, she had picked up a little French. Like me, she tries to learn a little of the language wherever she goes. Stephanie has inspired me to take that brave little leap and to talk to random strangers (but safely, of course) in the future.
Back in Paris, I discovered a little vegan restaurant called World Food Barn. There I met the owner and employee who both who have interesting stories and have traveled quite a bit. The owner is originally from California, but moved to Paris early on. In Paris, he was given a job opportunity where he traveled Europe. Through this experience, he was able to learn French, Spanish, German, and Italian! After the job, he worked with another company bringing a product into the U.S. market, but he quickly found that U.S. food was not as fresh as in Europe. As a result, he opened World Food Barn on Rue St Jacques. His co-worker is from France, but is fluent in English after living in Cambodia at a young age. She has also done a study abroad in Madrid, Spain. I chatted with her easily about traveling and more importantly, ice cream. She explained to me her philosophy on eating vegan and how she thinks everything should be done in moderation and with balance and this is more easily achieved by eating vegan as it does not harm animals. World Food Barn is not only a small restaurant open 11am-6pm daily, but also a lending library and a space to meet cool people. People from all different countries and cultures eat at World Food Barn and Michael has a collection of all different cookbooks and education information on veganism. The food he cooks is fresh and every day he offers a different soup and salad and special. He also has smoothies and bowls on a permanent menu. Michael and Elodie have inspired me to eat healthier when I return home although I’m not quite sure I’m ready to make the leap to full vegan quite yet.
