Liberation from the Bubble Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/03/2016 to 05/15/2016 with

Wellesley College: Aix-en-Provence - Wellesley-in-Aix

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned so much about myself. I met some incredible people. I still cannot put into words how dramatically my perspective has transformed and how much I feel I have grown - personally, academically, professionally. While it was undeniably exhausting at times, I am endlessly grateful to have had the opportunity to live and study in Aix.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Courses at Aix-Marseille Université are much less rigorous than those offered at Wellesley. While I deeply enjoyed the class I took at AMU (on the campus site in Marseille which was a weekly morning bus ride), the facilities and resources at la fac are decidedly lacking. On the other hand, Sciences Po students are held to much higher standards and the courses are supplemented with a "cours de soutien" for Wellesley-in-Aix students.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Marie Anne Devaux and Sophie Bussenius facilitated extraordinary administration. We were regularly notified of new opportunities in Aix and had monthly check-ins about academics and personal adjustment to the program. Additionally, they organized wonderful group outings both in and beyond Aix. Regrettably, Marie Anne is leaving after this semester, but I couldn't recommend these two enough.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

For many reasons (including those related to gender, class, sexuality, and race), I decided not to live with a French host family. Instead I lived in a small apartment right in the centre-ville, furnished with bedding, towels, a kitchenette, a private shower, and a workspace. I loved it. I would recommend it for anyone who is accustomed to living independently. I appreciated the freedom and privacy that allowed me to go out on my own terms, to cook my own meals, to read out loud, to go out at night, and to easily take a bus to Marseille.

* Food:

French cuisine is great, but mostly I loved going to the open-air markets every morning to buy my own groceries and cook my own meals . I rarely ate out but there are a TON of good eats around Aix, especially for students.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Neither perceived as French nor American, it was challenging to integrate. As a gender nonconforming person, the expectations for hegemonic masculinity and femininity were extremely discouraging at times, and instead of having spaces to heal, we are implicitly told to get over it and assimilate as much as you can. The feelings of isolation and marginalization can be particularly heightened for people of color. On multiple occasions I have had French people including professors, and even American peers, try to excuse casual racism and sexism as "cultural differences," which I wasn't down for. It's problematic, but it beat me down in ways that ultimately made me more resilient. I survived, but Aix is not a welcoming place for people who aim to challenge rather than reinforce the status quo.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Haven't personally sought care abroad, but heard from others that it has been accessible. However some students had issues and had to revisit problems due to inadequate providers.

* Safety:

I usually felt safe in Aix and it helps to carry your phone with you. I did not feel safe in the last few weeks as a man (with a known fetish for queer people) stalked me. I have also not felt safe walking by groups of men at night as a visibly queer person.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

I originally chose WIA for the French immersion component, but I would love to explore other programs on campuses with more outlets for advocacy, student organizing, agitating for social justice, and feminism.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 20-40 euros
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I tried to save a lot of money since I intended to spend time traveling independently outside of France during breaks and weekends. Shopping for produce at the marchés and eating out less frequently helped with this.

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

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? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 300-level
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Living with a host family helps a lot, but if you don't, you can always read out loud in French whenever possible, chat with French/international students at Sciences Po and la Fac, speak with professors, strike up conversations with the vendors at the markets and in stores, ask questions, watch French films and shows, and really engage during classes.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • French language immersion
  • Outings organized by WIA
  • Taking courses at la Fac, Sciences Po, and WIA
* What could be improved?
  • French culture immersion - having a more appropriate and culturally-sensitive conversation instead of "just assimilate"
  • Connecting us with extracurricular opportunities and ways to spend our cultural stipend
  • Connecting us with French students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Don't be too hard on yourself.