Aix: Beauty Costs Past Review
By Clarissa H (Undecided, Harvard University) for
Institute for American Universities (IAU): The Marchutz School of Fine Arts, Aix-en-Provence, France
Yes, I learned how to interact in a culture I wasn't very fmailiar in and I learned to be much more independent.
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 workload was fine. It was dependent on how much you wanted to put into it, which I thought was a good compromise so you could choose which days you wanted to work and which ones you wanted to explore Aix. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very well run, a good-size program, very knowledgeable |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
My host mom made the most delicious food in the world. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Bastille Day and a couple other festivals that happened in Aix made it a much more enjoyable experience. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Aix is incredibly safe. I never got sick, but my friend did and she had no problem finding the help she needed. |
| 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? | I'm kind of cheap. My host mom gave me breakfast and dinner (which were both fantastic) so I didn't really ever buy lunch, nor did I buy any souvenirs except at the very end, when I loaded up on gifts for my family. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Food in France was very expensive, which is why I balked at buying much of it. However, since the Euro just took a nosedive, it might be better when you're there. Always remember you can walk away before buying anything, and always ALWAYS make sure to check the cost of something before you walk up to the counter. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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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