Bienvenue en France, Week 1

Feb 1, 2020
3 min read

Updated: Feb 10, 2020

Time has flown by as I adjust to life in beautiful Aix! Here's a recap of my week 1 adventures and some of my favorite moments.

Joie de Vie. It’s a French phrase describing the cheerful enjoyment of life, an exultation of spirit. Nothing could sum up my first week in Aix better.

I am most definitely still in the honeymoon phase, I still pinch myself every time I pass boulangeries on my way to class and catch wafts of croissants and lavender drifting through the ancient Roman alleys of the old quarter.

Upon landing in Aix the sun was shining and I knew there would be no need for my puffy coat. Josiane, my host mom, had a fresh quiche waiting for me and my housemate Bella. Amidst her flowered apartment we felt right at home, as if we were paired by fate.

For our first meal in town, Bella and I ventured out on a rainy Sunday morning to Cafe Voltaire. Escargot has never tasted so good as we felt akin to the philosophical Lumiéres- or just two girls getting their bearings abroad ha!

Since the first night in France I’ve met so many interesting people, thoroughly enjoyed my classes, and haven’t taken this incredible city, which is small enough to truly feel you know the winding streets, for granted one moment.

Being able to stop into Weibel patisserie after class and discuss travel plans over tarte aux fruits and espresso with friends feels like something out of a movie. One moment I especially enjoyed was going for a morning run on the outskirts of the Thursday market where I could observe the Aixoise in their natural habitat filled with delicious foods, flowers, and ‘vetements.’

Evenings here are often spent on the square with friends from my program, sharing laughs over hot chocolate or wine. I’ve even tried the Provencal drink ‘Pastis,’ an anise flavored spirit and aperitif. As a lover of black licorice I found it delightful.

Another local favorite I tried was a Calisson, a French candy made of almond and fruit paste- the flavor was much like marzipan and worthy of trying it again and again.

As a class we visited Avignon, a quaint town on the Rhone river, and toured the Palais des Papes which housed the Popes in 1309- SO OLD! We then packed a picnic and enjoyed basking in the sun on the rocky banks of the Pont du Gard, marveling at the fact that the view of the highest Roman aquaduct hadn’t changed in 1,960 years.

My classes are so interesting as we discuss Cezanne, Zola, and ancient mediterranean civilizations- I’ve never felt so happy to be reading for class. My class building is right next door to Cezanne’s elementary school in an old pre-French revolution private mansion. We were informed that the family was ultimately beheaded- eerie! History really is alive here.

Since arriving in Aix, Mont Sainte Victoire, Cezanne’s favorite subject to paint, has loomed over us. On Friday we ventured 30 minutes outside of town to hike through its storied trails. The Bimont lake lays at the foot of the mountain and is cut off by a massive dam. It was a sunny and 60 degree day, so the waters sparkled emerald and the air was crisp.

We got sidetracked (and maybe a bit lost) on gorgeous trails for two hours- LOL- but ultimately found the main path to the top and made it quite a ways up. The view was extraordinary and we vowed to return and conquer the summit another day.

I’ve found the locals here to be truly kind, very sarcastic, and absolutely in love with their way of life. Being in full French immersion with little knowledge of the language has been tough at times, and I’m certainly used to being laughed at in conversation by locals, but I swear it’s a rush of adrenaline when you successfully communicate and find a hiking trail or bus stop with what you’ve learned.

I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to be studying in Aix. Week 1 has been a dream I don’t want to wake up from, and I already feel like four months will go too fast- there’s far too many pastries to try before my flight back to Ohio!

For now, bonne journée!