Now that I sort of have my bearings in this town, I should update you on my first couple of weeks in Aix.
First things first: Aix is perfect. It’s like a tiny, rustic city. The food is spectacular. I will never ever get tired of goat cheese, rosé, and baguettes. You can quote me on that.
The salty Mediterranean Sea is my newest love. It glows the prettiest hue of blue.
Within days, I discovered the one huge thing that separates me from French women: I laugh entirely too much. Impossibly cool people on the street stare blankly at me whenever I giggle. Every single time, it shocks me. But I refuse to let the French people kill my vibe.
Perhaps my favorite thing about being in the South of France is all of the walking. I usually walk somewhere between five and eight miles a day. Plenty of time to process my experiences and absorb my surroundings
In my painting and drawing class, we’ve been working with a live model. It is both incredibly challenging and eye-opening. My professor, John, spends most of the class period sitting with me, and gently telling me not to do whatever I’m doing. He is an adorable old man who lives in the other half of the art studio. He encourages me to see the character in everything I draw.
In a few of my classes, I’ve definitely been labeled the radical kid (apparently a lot of professors don’t know what to do when you talk about race). Thank you, Macalester, for teaching me to be so curious and skeptical. Unfortunately, I wish my professors here rewarded my deconstruction as much as you do. I’m trying to find a better balance between biting my tongue and being extremely critical of systems of power. Help.
Finally, to those of you who listened to me question my ability to find friends here, mission accomplished. I adore the girls I’ve been spending time with here. I blame them for my laughing attacks in the silent, twisting streets of Aix. I feel so grateful to be able to experience this impeccable city with such brilliant people. Silence is overrated.
Bisous!
Lucy
xoxo
First things first: Aix is perfect. It’s like a tiny, rustic city. The food is spectacular. I will never ever get tired of goat cheese, rosé, and baguettes. You can quote me on that.
The salty Mediterranean Sea is my newest love. It glows the prettiest hue of blue.
Within days, I discovered the one huge thing that separates me from French women: I laugh entirely too much. Impossibly cool people on the street stare blankly at me whenever I giggle. Every single time, it shocks me. But I refuse to let the French people kill my vibe.
Perhaps my favorite thing about being in the South of France is all of the walking. I usually walk somewhere between five and eight miles a day. Plenty of time to process my experiences and absorb my surroundings
In my painting and drawing class, we’ve been working with a live model. It is both incredibly challenging and eye-opening. My professor, John, spends most of the class period sitting with me, and gently telling me not to do whatever I’m doing. He is an adorable old man who lives in the other half of the art studio. He encourages me to see the character in everything I draw.
In a few of my classes, I’ve definitely been labeled the radical kid (apparently a lot of professors don’t know what to do when you talk about race). Thank you, Macalester, for teaching me to be so curious and skeptical. Unfortunately, I wish my professors here rewarded my deconstruction as much as you do. I’m trying to find a better balance between biting my tongue and being extremely critical of systems of power. Help.
Finally, to those of you who listened to me question my ability to find friends here, mission accomplished. I adore the girls I’ve been spending time with here. I blame them for my laughing attacks in the silent, twisting streets of Aix. I feel so grateful to be able to experience this impeccable city with such brilliant people. Silence is overrated.
Bisous!
Lucy
xoxo