So I was fortunate enough to be able to stay for an extra few days in Aix after most of the other IAU students had left. I was even more fortunate that my host mom was willing to let me stay for two extra nights while she was on vacation, especially because every single hotel in Aix was booked for the July 14th weekend! On the Friday before I left, I went to the reception at the new building to get a tour, give some tours, and see all of the US IAU staff members that I haven't seen in a few months which was really great. That Saturday, I headed to Cassis with the two teachers that were in Aix to do some research, and we did a boat tour of the Calanques (which I highly recommend, it was absolutely beautiful). We went to a very nice dinner that evening at a restaurant called Pasta Cosi. The following day I spent the day walking around Aix and soaking up the city because it was my last day before I had to go home. I went to the market, and I also bought some wine to take back with me, overall it was very productive! That night was 14 julliet (Bastille Day), so Aix had music and different things set up all over the city. I started at my friend Haley's apartment celebrating the evening, and we eventually moved to the city and the Cours Mirabeau to hear the live music and dance and fully enjoy everything that Aix offered. When the night ended, I headed to my favorite crepe stand near La Rotonde, got my last crepe, and headed back home. The next day was an exhausting day of travel, but I'm finally home and have had time to think about my experiences. Going back to study in Aix for a second time was easily one of the best decisions that I've made in my collegiate career. I was able to jump into the city with a limited amount of culture shock issues, and really focus on language learning and awareness of the cultural beauty and differences surrounding me. I was so happy that Aix didn't seem to have changed hardly at all in the two years that I was away, and it made me appreciate the lifestyle that I had grown to love so much even more. I'm already scheming ways to get back to Aix after I finish my Master's degree next year, and I absolutely cannot wait to return. I made
|