Liberation from the Bubble Past Review

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

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• Dorm

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• Local Students

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• French language immersion
• Outings organized by WIA
• Taking courses at la Fac, Sciences Po, and WIA

• 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