Profiter: the Aixois Way of Life Past Review
By Hannah M (International Relations and French, Wellesley College) for
Wellesley College: Aix-en-Provence - Wellesley-in-Aix
It was most definitely worthwhile. Not only did my level of French (spoken and written) improve greatly, I learned a lot about myself during my year abroad. I became more self-sufficient and confident and made lasting relationships with people I would never have met otherwise.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Universite de Provence (Aix-Marseille I) and SciencesPo |
| 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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
If you are a vegetarian, French people are likely to not understand what that entails and to ask why you would be a vegetarian. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I loved the 3 weeks in Paris as well as the trip to Corsica. The wine and cheese tasting in Paris was possibly the most enjoyable meal of my life. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Aix was a very safe city, although men like to catcall women especially at night. |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Aix is an expense city to live in and if you want to do a lot of traveling it will be hard to get by with the stipend from Wellesley. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | French 211 |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced French with other people in the program most often but also with French and foreign friends. |
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? | Be practical and roll with the punches. Don't expect everything to be perfect and magical from the beginning. It takes time to adjust to the relaxed way of life in the south of France, but it can be wonderful if you embrace it. |
