September 26th, 2022
After spending spring the semester in France, I returned to Korea. Although it was not a long stay, it was not easy to erase the traces of those few months. I spent a few days before returning home, erasing my records in France and letting go of the memories of France.
As a country of papers, I had to do a lot of paperwork, just like when I arrived. First of all, I closed my bank account and canceled my mobile phone contract, transportation tickets, and house insurance, which are necessary for living in France. In general, all cancellations are made by mail, so I wrote a letter and sent it by registered mail. A few weeks after returning home, I received a reply confirming the cancellation by international mail. It was an experience unimaginable in Korea, where all administrative procedures are conducted through the Internet.
I also left my dormitory. I informed the office of my departure a month ago, and the dormitory staff inspected the room on the day I left. This checking of the room condition is called “L’état des lieux” in French, and it is mandatory when entering and leaving. It was a bit sad to leave the place that had been my sanctuary for seven months.
Returning home during the pandemic was not easy. According to the policy at the time, only those who tested negative the day before their return were allowed to board the plane. I've seen a lot of people who had to postpone their flights because the test results were positive.
The airport was very chaotic as it had reduced staff due to the pandemic. The airport was really crowded, so I had to get to the airport 4 hours before takeoff and I had to wait a long time. Before I left for the airport, I heard the news that there were many cases of lost suitcases, and I really lost mine.
When I arrived in Korea, I could see the difference between Korea and France in various situations. In Korea, everyone still wears a mask indoors and the staff at the airport were wearing protective suits and face shields, but in France, since March, no one has been wearing a mask indoors. In addition, I had to report the PCR test results immediately after returning home. I really felt that I was back in Korea.
When I decided to return home earlier than planned, I had less than three weeks left. I just wanted to enjoy things that were already familiar to me. I spent my time in Paris taking a walk along the Seine, climbing Montmartre hill to watch the sunset, eating ice cream in the streets and spending time in cafes. I left France with so many memories.
| Hyemin AN