When I arrived in Montpellier in June 2014, I had just quit my job, left my friends behind and abandoned my country with little understanding of what was to come next. Over the 14 months that followed, I worked hard to build a new life. I studied French, made an amazing group of friends, explored new corners of the world, and learned more about cheese than I ever knew there was to learn. In short: it exceeded all expectations.

And now it's happening again. We are leaving our life in Montpellier to explore San Francisco. I am leaving my studies, leaving my Montpellier friends, and preparing to explore a place I've never even visited.

And it is devastating.

So to say a proper farewell to the place that has become home, I've compiled some of my favorite photos in and around Montpellier from the past year and a half.

A very french send-off as I prepare to leave DC for my new adventure.

My first glimpse of the Mediterranean flying into Montpellier for the first time.

Wasting no time trying to fit in with my best french impression. I didn't pass.

A busy evening on Rue Saint Roch in the old city center, home to some of our favorite restaurants and bars, not to mention its namesake, the beautiful Église Saint Roch.

Some of our first visitors, my parents, enjoying their time at L'Estival, the weekly summer wine and food festival on L'Esplande Charles-de-Gaulle.

One of our favorite hiking destinations, Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert. Just an hour outside of the city center, we took advantage of the many different hiking trails before feasting on a lunch of crepes in the small village square below.