Aix: Best time of my life, I wish I had stayed longer!! Past Review
By Emily N (History, University of Richmond) for
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Aix-en-Provence, France
I had an amazing experience in Aix. My only regret is that I did not stay longer. Studying there gave me a deeper appreciation for the European culture, learning different languages, and meeting new people. It really opened me up to how many opportunities there are without overwhelming me. It was a very exciting time and it has made me want to live abroad.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes I took in Aix were awesome. The teachers were phenomenal and my language skills increased dramatically. The classes were small and the work load was manageable, I always felt like they cared more about the experience I had then the papers I turned in. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The support system in Aix was amazing. The directors were involved, engaged, and genuinely cared about all of us and our experience. They were constantly planning activities, making sure we were comfortable, and providing support. We had as much independence as we did at our home universities but a lot of individual attention if we wanted it. The experience would not have been the same with out the CEA administration onsite. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My apartment was AMAZING. I lived with two other American students in a beautiful, clean, safe, apartment. I could not believe we got to stay there. |
| * Food: |
CEA planned dinners for us and even arranged for students who were not doing a home stay to have an authentic dinner prepared by a local resident. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
CEA planned the best trips for us. We spent time in Arles, St. Remy, Monaco, Cannes, and Camargue. Camargue was the most memorable trip for me as we met so many wonderful people and learned about a whole new culture in the south of France. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in Aix and did not hear of any incidents while I was there (and even since I've returned). I did have a health issue over there and the CEA directors could not have taken better care of me. They set up doctor's appointments, accompanied me when I wanted them to, and handled medication/prescriptions/payment etc. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
My French class was taught entirely in French and we communicated with other international students in French. Many people did speak English but I wanted to practice my French and everyone was very patient. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | This is a great program for a student who wants something low key but can still travel often to the more faster paced cities. When I was a junior the major cities (i.e. Paris) felt too overwhelming for me but Aix was a perfect match. It is three hours away from Paris, so close to the South, and there were even day trips to Italy! It was a wonderful homebase and the people were so kind and patient and welcoming. My language improved tremendously and it is a town full of students! It is really the best of both worlds: culture and college fun. |
