This year, 2015, will stay in the history as one of the worst beginnings for France. It's been a sad week and I can't stop thinking about what I would like to do with my life and what I want to accomplish. I think writing my thoughts down again will help continue fueling my experiences, and allowing my friends and family to endure what I go through, good and bad, because life seems to be stopping at every corner lately.
I haven't looked at this page in a very long time and it's been a true walk down memory lane. Has it been that long? All I know is it's all very different.
I have started a new chapter in my life, similar to the previous one, but in a very different context.
If you haven't noticed yet, I live in Nogent-sur-Marne, France where I grew up and left when I was fifteen. I chose this specific place for multiple reasons: to reach goals I had set before graduating college.
The main reasons for coming back to France and putting my "American life" on hold are a step in the right direction to get closer to my dreams in every area of my life.
In academics, school was a tough decision because I couldn't find an institution in the U.S. that satisfied my interests in exercise science and wasn't going to leave me like many of my fellow graduates: broke. Luckily, a few minutes away from home is the mecca of elite sports, INSEP (National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance), where a master's program caught my attention and I was able to make the cut to be part of the small class accepted. On another note, school in France is practically free compared to the U.S.
Training has never left my thoughts for one moment even while I took a long break this past summer to clear my mind, enjoy my life, and reboot for what seems to be a fast pace year. With only one thing one my mind, getting faster has become an obsession, and my Filippi single that is currently drying from my last session has been my best friend and confidant while I put in long hours fixing small details to find more speed. After what I will most likely call one of the worst experiences of my life, I could only choose to go forward and up. A small hint, I believe I was unjustly thrown away by the very same program I gave everything to, but that is all in the past now. Things are the opposite at the moment. Here, I am able to walk to practice within 1 minute (I live next door), have an entourage of skilled and willing athletes and coaches to help me surpass every limit, and I am lucky enough to be trusted with someone else's quality equipment.
After reading this you might think, "Damn, that's a lot of I's!" and I agree with you, but it is for a dreamy reason. I have been part of a team and school the entire time I was in Florida so that being said, I'd like to focus on myself and discover what I can do.
For now I'll leave it to that as I have had time to adjust to my new surroundings and getting close to very important regattas.
Growing up here around Olympians and elite level athletes from all sports, INSEP has been an important place in my family's life. Being part of this tight nit family is very exceptional as my mom trained there too so it is extremely upsetting to watch such amazing athletes and champions lose their lives in a tragic accident that still seems surreal. Rest in peace Alexis Vastine, Camille Muffat, Florence Arthaud
Much love.
I haven't looked at this page in a very long time and it's been a true walk down memory lane. Has it been that long? All I know is it's all very different.
I have started a new chapter in my life, similar to the previous one, but in a very different context.
If you haven't noticed yet, I live in Nogent-sur-Marne, France where I grew up and left when I was fifteen. I chose this specific place for multiple reasons: to reach goals I had set before graduating college.
The main reasons for coming back to France and putting my "American life" on hold are a step in the right direction to get closer to my dreams in every area of my life.
In academics, school was a tough decision because I couldn't find an institution in the U.S. that satisfied my interests in exercise science and wasn't going to leave me like many of my fellow graduates: broke. Luckily, a few minutes away from home is the mecca of elite sports, INSEP (National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance), where a master's program caught my attention and I was able to make the cut to be part of the small class accepted. On another note, school in France is practically free compared to the U.S.
Training has never left my thoughts for one moment even while I took a long break this past summer to clear my mind, enjoy my life, and reboot for what seems to be a fast pace year. With only one thing one my mind, getting faster has become an obsession, and my Filippi single that is currently drying from my last session has been my best friend and confidant while I put in long hours fixing small details to find more speed. After what I will most likely call one of the worst experiences of my life, I could only choose to go forward and up. A small hint, I believe I was unjustly thrown away by the very same program I gave everything to, but that is all in the past now. Things are the opposite at the moment. Here, I am able to walk to practice within 1 minute (I live next door), have an entourage of skilled and willing athletes and coaches to help me surpass every limit, and I am lucky enough to be trusted with someone else's quality equipment.
After reading this you might think, "Damn, that's a lot of I's!" and I agree with you, but it is for a dreamy reason. I have been part of a team and school the entire time I was in Florida so that being said, I'd like to focus on myself and discover what I can do.
For now I'll leave it to that as I have had time to adjust to my new surroundings and getting close to very important regattas.
Growing up here around Olympians and elite level athletes from all sports, INSEP has been an important place in my family's life. Being part of this tight nit family is very exceptional as my mom trained there too so it is extremely upsetting to watch such amazing athletes and champions lose their lives in a tragic accident that still seems surreal. Rest in peace Alexis Vastine, Camille Muffat, Florence Arthaud
Much love.
