You have to make the most of it February 07, 2025
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/26/2024 to 01/10/2025 with
Wellesley College: Aix-en-Provence - Wellesley-in-Aix
I liked going to other countries and experiencing other cultures. I also gained a lot of self-assurance and learned a lot about myself. However, there as such hardships as a Black person that almost make all of it not worth it.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I like the subjects of the courses I took and my professors were available to chat with after class. The workload was enough for me to enjoy being abroad and in France |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Our program administration was a great resource throughout the program. Whether it was navigating cultural differences or learning the language, I was in good hands. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I liked my studio. However, I did run into some issues like heating or bothersome neighbors |
| * Food: |
I had a great stipend for food and I mostly ate from restaurants that were not French. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Aix is a very white and bourgeoisie town. It makes it hard to integrate when there is an underlying and sometimes ouvert hostility and distance from the town people, students, and administration |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Healthcare was super easy. I had a doctor's appointment and it went extremely well. The only thing I'll say is to bring your own cough medicine because it was hard to find over the counter medicine |
| * Safety: |
Aix was safe town physically. I would take walks during the night time |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The program administration, the students I was with, and the progress I made in my language learning enriched my experience |
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) |
Although Aix was an expensive town, I was able to go to a cheap grocery store not too far from me |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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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? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 200 |
| 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? | Continue practicing with French students that are nice |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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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? | Traveling while black means fighting tooth and nail for your happiness. But you do get those moments of joy and you come out a stronger person for it |
