Cannes, tourists galore. Past Review
By Audrey F (French, Saint Anselm College) for
AIFS: Cannes - Campus International de Cannes
Living here mostly reinforced what I had already learned about French society and culture, I didn't really find anything I wasn't expecting or experience any life-changing revelations.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
AIFS representatives here are local, so they know the area and have many years of experience running the program. They plan many excursions already included in the tuition price, usually 1-2 per week except during the film festival. The group was a bit large for some of the excursions, but they tried to accommodate everyone. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Poor internet connection, low food quality. Daily cleaning provided, bedding provided and changed regularly. Good security, single campus entrance guarded 24/7. Decent nightlife and located across the street from the beach. Some rooms have an ocean view. |
| * Food: |
Not recommended for vegan/vegetarian. The chefs are not accustomed to cooking for them, and as such the food served is often disappointing. Meals in general are mediocre, with a few exceptions depending on who is cooking that day. There is a nice cafe with good food and prices right across the street. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
AmFAR gala was a spectacular event, and as a volunteer you take part in many aspects. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Healthcare must be paid for at the time of service, but insurance claims through the company included with the AIFS package will be reimbursed. On-campus nurse has no healthcare certification, her job is mostly to call the doctor. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Stick to bargain food stores like Leader Price and Monoprix, the exchange rate gets expensive quick. What I spent depends on the week, but budget for 10-15 euros to be spent on a meal out every week to have a break from campus food, more if you're a picky eater. Some of the food shops can be very tempting, even for cautious spenders. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | There is a 50 euro key deposit I hadn't planned on, and the second portion (medical visit) for the long term visa cost around 55 euro. No one had mentioned those expenses. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 300-level |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | A student who is looking for more than just a beach-side party would benefit most. This College offers so many opportunities to enrich language skills to anyone who cares to look. The beach-side parties are great, but you can find those in America too- don't let the local culture pass you by while partying with other Americans. |
