I could go on and on about Nantes (pronounced non-t), but just know that I have love for this town, Isabelle, and her family who have grown dear to my heart. I lived here for 7 weeks in 2001 during a study abroad program at UC. I've since visited twice because my experience here has had a profound impact on the direction in my life.

I arrived at my old host family's house, 24 Rue de Destillere around 7pm. A teenager answered the door, "bonsoir!" It was Gigumet (sp). Crazy, she was 2 when I lived there in 2001.

Later that evening, Isabelle (my host mother), invited me to stay for dinner with the students who were in the same program I had done at UC. Isabelle has hosted students for the last 16 years. It was their "last super" with their host family b/c they would soon be off to Belgium and then back home. Memories rushed back into my head while the students were sharing their experiences. They were pretty much the same as mine but with different names.

The students asked me why I was biking and traveling around the world. The question has been asked many times to me so I knew exactly what to say, but in that moment, what hit me was after staying in Nantes in 2001, I wanted to see more of the world. I knew that then. That trip was one of the first stepping stones to why I'm here today. It could be traced back to the table we were eating at that night. Sharing the same stories, eating the same wonderful food that Isabelle prepared.

Isabelle, Sophie, and Gigument (left to right)

Me, Isabelle, and Sophie. Sophie is studying to be a dentist. Good luck Sophie!

Oysters from the Talvande's holiday home on the west cost of France (Brittany).

The Basilique Saint-Donatien (after the fire).