Today was the first day of classes, and I feel the excitement of what this summer semester will bring. To the left you can see the road that leads to the main IAU building, where orientation took place, and where you can find the computar labs, the cave (student lounge), and library. They are pretty neat. The building itself is to the left, right when the road starts to lower.
The walk to the school from my homestay is not too bad--20 minutes. I really enjoy it, and since I cross the Cours Mirabeau everyday, on market days I get to experience that aspect of French life. In addition, there is a market everyday on one of the plazas by our school, which makes buying fruit for lunch very convenient!
The walk to the school from my homestay is not too bad--20 minutes. I really enjoy it, and since I cross the Cours Mirabeau everyday, on market days I get to experience that aspect of French life. In addition, there is a market everyday on one of the plazas by our school, which makes buying fruit for lunch very convenient!
The courses I will be taking this summer are European Culture and Society, and French Modern Art. As an International Studies major at my school, these are required courses, and I feel so lucky to be able to take these courses while being in a European country. This way, I can digest my learning by observing life around me. In addition, what better place to study French Modern Art than in the south of France, where so many of the modern artists escaped to for inspiration?
I have already met some really cool people--plus I have an awesome housemate who is in another program with whom I can tell I will be spending a lot of time with. I think it'll be cool to know people from IAU and CEA (the program my housemate is doing). I can see how each program works, and if I ever decide to study abroad again, I have something to compare it to. My housemate is only taking a french course--however, it is a Monday through Friday, four hours a day, extensive French course. I think it will be very rewarding in the end. I am kind of regretting not taking a French course, but after giving it some thought I have realized that I am living IN a French city... speaking French is unavoidable. Therefore, I will make it a personal goal to speak French everyday with someone outside of my host family. Let's see if I can get rid of my American accent (or at least make it less noticeable).
I think this will be a very eventful and enlightening summer.
Until next time!
Laura
I have already met some really cool people--plus I have an awesome housemate who is in another program with whom I can tell I will be spending a lot of time with. I think it'll be cool to know people from IAU and CEA (the program my housemate is doing). I can see how each program works, and if I ever decide to study abroad again, I have something to compare it to. My housemate is only taking a french course--however, it is a Monday through Friday, four hours a day, extensive French course. I think it will be very rewarding in the end. I am kind of regretting not taking a French course, but after giving it some thought I have realized that I am living IN a French city... speaking French is unavoidable. Therefore, I will make it a personal goal to speak French everyday with someone outside of my host family. Let's see if I can get rid of my American accent (or at least make it less noticeable).
I think this will be a very eventful and enlightening summer.
Until next time!
Laura