An unforgettable year in Aix Past Review
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/22/2014 to 05/22/2015 with
Wellesley College: Aix-en-Provence - Wellesley-in-Aix
I became so much more confident and comfortable with myself, and I gained so much global perspective. This has been an invaluable experience for me.
Personal Information
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The fac leaves a lot to be desired. The administration is slow and usually incomprehensible and the facilities are in a pitiable state. However, the courses and professors themselves were excellent, and it was a truly wonderful experience for me to be able to engage in a French classroom and develop my language and critical thinking abilities. |
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration is excellent. All of the side trips were mostly very well-planned and interesting, and the program center was always a good place to go for resources and support. |
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Wonderful host family, ideally situated between the center and the fac, lovely neighborhood and very accommodating host parents. It was a real pleasure for me. |
* Food: |
Fantastic. Lots of French, Spanish, Italian and Moroccan cuisine. It was a real year of discovery for me. |
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I'm naturally a more reserved person, so it's partly on me, but the student-led activities never fell during a time when I was free, and the way that the fac is set up is not conducive to developing ties with other students. However, I had plenty of opportunities to interact and exchange with my host family's friends and guests, which was excellent for me. |
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
NA |
* Safety: |
With the exception of Marseille at night and Aix during the really late hours of the night (maybe 4-6 in the morning), the town and all the neighborhoods are generally well-lit and animated enough that there's never a reason for concern. |
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
* 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) |
Aix is very touristic and, therefore, very expensive. I barely went out to eat or for drinks and I bought minimal groceries for lunches. However, if you're budget-conscious it's very doable. |
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 80 |
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Better to drink at home than go out, especially for cocktails, which usually run you at least 7 euros each. |
Language
* Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 303 |
How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Don't be afraid to strike up a conversation with anyone. The more you do it the less anxious you are each time and the easier it gets. |
Other Program Information
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
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? | Bringing comfortable clothes is a good idea. The climate is mild but it does get chilly. Traveling in France and not just to other countries on the weekend is very rewarding and pretty simple. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |