CEA Study Abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France

Studying abroad with CEA this past summer in Southern France was by far the best experience of my life! I was able to experience a new culture, find new interests, make new connections and friends who can become lifelong friends. When deciding to study abroad, CEA was with me every step of the way. In fact, through the whole process the CEA teams (enrollment advisors and site specialists) were helpful, efficient and there to talk and answer any questions that I had. When I arrived in France, I was met at the airport by the on-site specialists and welcomed with open arms. Through their on site orientations, CEA did a great job of making me feel at home and helped me to get accustomed to the new country. This was truly a unique experience and I would recommend this program with anyone!

Studying abroad in Aix is something I'll remember for the rest of my life. I made lifelong friends, and felt totally immersed in the culture for the 5 months I spent there. CEA was the most kind, helpful, and protecting in preparing me for France and while I was abroad. I would 100% recommend them to anyone looking to study abroad. France was a unique cultural difference, but it helped me to see the world in a new way. I got to travel while also fulfilling credits that will transfer back to my home university. The school buildings were nice and offered as many programs possible, including clubs and a cafe! While I had a few issues with my specific academic program, I still was glad I got to experience it. Aside from that, everything was perfect! Would do it again in a heartbeat!

My family and I were both nervous for me to study abroad. Being alone in an foreign place is scary the first time! CEA made everything so easy while preparing for my study abroad experience. They always answered my questions within 48 hours (no matter how small they were) and sent many personal reminder emails as the deadlines for forms got closer. When I got to Aix, there were many excursions included and the onsite staff was very helpful when I had no idea what I was doing. I participated in the Mobile Journalist (MOJO) program with CEA as well, taking photos, videos, and making blog posts throughout the semester. Choosing to be a mobile journalist was such a great idea for me because I had an excuse to go out and take pictures instead of studying :) and it allowed me to share my photography with a wider community. I would 100% recommend CEA to anyone hesitant about going abroad because of how helpful and knowledgeable the employees are.

I loved studying abroad in Aix. It's such a beautiful city with a strong history and breathtaking architecture. The center is very walkable and accessible. The Cours Mirabeau is the most iconic promenade street where a market takes place in the morning to mid-afternoon. In every corner, you can find amazing, ornate fountains of all shapes and sizes. A fun way to get acquainted with the city is to walk around and find as many fountains as you can! These fountains can then serve as rendez-vous places or points of reference so you don't get lost during the first few weeks.

What I loved the most about living in Aix was able to experience life in Provence. Through CEA excursions, I was able to discover many beautiful, small villages nearby that show the calm, rural life in various areas in Provence. One of my favorite experiences was visiting the village of Trets during their garlic festival. We were able to dance and interact with the locals, which really helped with language acquisition. These small villages are hidden wonders. Aix's wonderful program advisers have very detailed handouts explaining transportation to several of these villages, their history, and things to do and see. If they do no have a handout for a specific location, they will go out of their way to help you research.

Although I had a few issues with the host institution, as I will elaborate on later, I really enjoyed my language course because I was in such a diverse class, which gave me such a distinct experience. There were students from at least four different countries, from youth to middle-aged students who were all there to learn French for different reasons, not just to study abroad. It made me open my eyes and feel even more grateful for the amazing opportunity and choice to study abroad.

I felt at home with host family. By the end of the program, it was very hard to say goodbye.

Aix is a great city to live and study in, it's very safe with a lot to do. There's a spa, a mountain to hike, lots of hills to stay in shape, and endless restaurants for any craving you may be having. CEA provided amazing support to us students, and any issues we had were resolved immediately. They were available and made sure if they weren't for any reason that you still had help. Their office location is right in the center of town so it's easy to get to when need be. This program allowed me to become more confident in life, if I can handle a spiral city with a different language then I can do anything, and it was the best experience I've ever had. I got to see so many things with the program and experience the French culture in a new way. I highly recommend Aix and CEA!

Studying abroad in Aix-en-Provence for a semester was such an amazing experience. I had a great homestay arrangement, enjoyed each and everyone of my classes, and made countless friends and memories. Everyday I wish for once again to be sitting in a cafe along the cours mirabeau or in place du hotel de ville sipping cafe au lait and soaking up the sun. The atmosphere of southern france is easily one to indulge in and I learned how to relax and enjoy every fleeting moment. The winding cobblestone streets, historic and beautiful architecture, the aromatic boulangeries, bumbling cafe chatter and wine nights with friends allowed Aix to quickly become my home. Each day held something new and exciting and opened my mind to endless possibilities the world has to offer.

It’s been a year since I lived in Aix-en-Provence for four months, growing roots in a city I long to return to every day with friends I miss so much. If you’re wondering whether this city is a good match for you, I’ll give you an idea of why I chose it: I was looking for a small city, a place where I wouldn’t feel lost stifled by tall buildings. I was looking for a place with those classically charming cobblestone streets, flanked on either side by boulangeries, little shops, and age-old homes slowing decaying but in the best way possible. Living in Aix brought those expectations to life and fully exceeded them. The blank shops and empty bakeries I imagined in my head before arriving turned into Jacobs, where you can get the best baguette of your life for just 80 centimes, or Joseph, for a tarte au citron (or, let’s be honest, any other stunning dessert in the display). Le garde Manger was a favorite too, for it’s too-cute-for-life balcony and killer quiche lorraine.
And I was actually able to get to all these places somewhat regularly because of my class schedule in the SUFLE program at Aix-Marseille Université. I only had class Monday to Thursday, and only for about 3 to 5 hours a day. My friends and I would go to a café in the afternoon and have a croissant and an espresso and read a novel for class or just sit and practice speaking in French.
Being in the CEA program made navigating a French University easy because I didn’t have to figure anything with class registration or anything like that.
CEA also did a wonderful job of keeping us busy with fun activities on those Fridays off, with everything from soap-making at a local savonnerie, wine tastings, or a drawing workshop in the Provençal outdoors with a view of Mt. Sainte-Victoire.
Overall, it was a great experience I wouldn’t change at all, and going there with CEA was the best decision I could’ve made.

Studying abroad in France is about more than baguettes. Baguettes do play a large role, but the real goodness of it all lies in the people and places you meet. I went to Aix-en-Provence, France with CEA from January-April 2017, and not a day goes by when I don't think about it. Aix was the perfect city for me -- it's teeming with cafés, shops, and picturesque winding streets, without having the feel of a gridded city with huge looming buildings. I’m so thankful to have been apart of CEA’s Aix program versus going on my own, because every staff person met or talked to genuinely wanted to be as helpful to me as possible. Whether I was freaking out over pre-departure documents, had questions about my classes or anything else, CEA was quick to respond and worked with me so that I didn’t have to figure things out on my own. While in France, my onsite directors Nancy and Vivienne were the best. I can’t imagine two people more perfect for their role. They had local activities planned for us every week, as well as frequent tea times in the CEA office where we could have tea and our favorite madeleine cakes. I can honestly say that studying abroad was the best four months of my life, and CEA made it so that I could most fully enjoy my time. I would go back in a heartbeat!