Two Worlds Become One

My name is Li Fu Stigers. I am a student at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina currently taking full advantage of the study abroad opportunity in Rennes this semester. Since arriving a little more than a month ago (August 20), I have had a question that is constantly on my mind, and I will do my best to answer it now. Who am I, and who are you in this life we go through? I have always felt I know who I am. Sure, there have been challenging moments, but deep down I know. I am a storyteller through poetry and song, and a world traveler. 

This is not my first time being outside the United States, nor my first time in France. Over the past couple of years, I have been to Paris, Normandy, and Strasbourg. But it is my first time being on the other side of the ocean away from my family. I remember telling them, “ I will definitely miss you, but I’m not going to be homesick.” In almost no time at all, I found out I’d been lying to myself. The first night with my first host family, when I went to bed, I just laid there staring at the ceiling and could not stop thinking about my parents and the rest of my family and friends. In life, there are some things that we can take for granted. At that moment, I wondered if I had been taking my life for granted. So, I started doing what I do best : writing songs and it helped me start to refocus.

Fast forward a few days: I have been blessed to be living with a new host family that almost instantly felt like family. We have done something every day since the day I arrived. Watching French and American films (with French subtitles), listening to music, meeting other family and friends, going to a tennis match or rugby match, and eating delicious food. 

What I have learned so far about navigating life in France is that it is essential to be open minded to new experiences. Try not to seclude yourself in a bubble, or simply stick with your regular group of friends. There are many different nationalities in this program. So you have an opportunity to learn more about another country while speaking French. 

While it is important to have some boundaries in place, attempt to say yes to doing things with your host family. After all, part of this experience is learning what another culture is all about. And as you expand your experiences, your French will eventually grow along with it because you will need to learn how to explain or ask questions about certain aspects of life, you did not have to before. Do not be afraid to ask questions to your host family if you do not understand something or simply just want to know more. In addition, share things about you and your state that you want your host family to know. As you begin sharing your experiences and ideas, you will notice how while we have differences that make us unique, we are more similar than different. We have our joys and challenges and hopes and fears. I have also been learning that in order to change the world, you have to allow the world to change you. Not completely, but take the time to notice and understand the people around you. 

If you allow yourself to take full advantage of the opportunities in study abroad, you will see for yourself how two worlds become one. You will be better equipped for the next chapter of your life, and perhaps a better person for having taken a leap into this once in a lifetime experience.

Love, Live, and Learn.

Li Fu Stigers

CIEE-Rennes Liberal Arts Fall 2026