Averett Around the World

Stories by Averett students before, during, and after study abroad

recent posts

  • Eiffel in Love With France

    Going to France was one of the best experiences of my life. If you ever get a chance to go on a study abroad trip do not pass up the opportunity. Our trip was scheduled for the week after France opened their borders and it could not have been more perfect timing… Since the borders were just opened and people still had doubts about traveling and Covid-19, we were able to experience Paris without outrageous crowds. There wasn’t even a line to enter the Louvre, the world’s largest art museum and the home of the Mona Lisa.

    La Tour Eiffel, Paris

    Crêpes and Croissants

    As I reminisce about our trip I think about what it was like to spend our days in Aix-en-Provence. As soon as we woke up, we would go downstairs for breakfast. Everyday we had croissants and coffee. After breakfast we strolled around town and walked through the market where we would buy fresh fruit to snack on throughout the day or take with us on our day trips. Lunch was often a stop at our favorite restaurant for a crêpe, either sweet or savory, or if we wanted lunch on the go we stopped at a bakery for a baguette. Dinner was a time to socialize, enjoy some local wine and relax after a day filled with walking. But if we were too tired to go out, because meals often took an hour or two, we would UberEats sushi to our hotel.

    True or False?

    Before arriving in France I was not sure what to expect. So, I thought I would address common stereotypes that I have been asked when people ask me about our trip. The first being berets: When you think of France do you think of someone wearing a beret holding a baguette? The only people I saw wearing berets were a few tourists but you can buy one on most street corners in Paris.

    French people are highly fashionable, I did not see a single person in a baggy t-shirt and leggings. Everyone there is dressed to impress.

    French people are romantic, especially French men and couples there were very affectionate.

    Something I did not expect to see was a lot of dogs but there was always a dog in sight, even in stores and cafés!

    Oh and when you think of French music do you think of an accordion? In Aix there was a man who played the accordion during dinner in front of restaurants, it made it feel like we were in a movie!

    Les crêpes

  • First Few Days in Aix!

    My first three days in Aix en Provence have been extraordinary from the get-go, from making friends with the local people to finding my regular food shops. To start things off, my new journey in France has taught me many new things from food to speaking in Franglais (French mixed with English). I have figured out some phrases from the local people to communicating with them. My favorite one I have learned is “bonsoir, au revoir” just based on the way it sounds from the pronunciation. I have also been to so many great places in Aix and around. I have walked everywhere in the town (and when I say everywhere I mean it).

    We have seen the original Aix with the provincial people lived. With their home on top of the hills overlooking all the land below in case of attacks from enemies. It was amazing being able to touch their houses they lived in through generations of their families.

    Art lesson at the IAU Marchutz Studio

    To seeing the many marvelous water fountains and loving the way they express themselves through art gave me insight on why so many famous and aspiring artists came to visit Aix. The artwork was not just in drawings or paintings, it is in the ways they expressed every little detail. The balcony with flame-like railings and statue men looking like they were holding up the buildings. Each little shop has their own way of showing off the store merchandise. In Aix en Provence there was never a dull moment when walking the streets. There was and still is something to explore or another turn to take. It is an endlessly amazing this city and I am blessed to have had this amazing opportunity.

  • Be careful with that suitcase! My mom is in there.

    Not long before we were originally scheduled to leave for our France trip, my mother unexpectedly passed away from a stroke. Stuck in a small town most of her life, my mother never travelled, and I knew that it was up to me to get out into the world for the both of us. I always knew she was meant for more than the life she was given, and I knew that I, too, deserved to experience what the world has to offer rather than living a sheltered life.  

    View toward Marseille from the Frioul islands in the Mediterranean.

    With my share of her ashes that were split between my sisters and I, I carefully packed them and off to France we went. It didn’t take me long to realize that Aix-en-Provence, and generally the south of France, would always have a special place in my heart. I was now on a mission to find a place to spread her ashes so that a part of her could remain in this corner of the world that I hold so dear.

    On our second trip to Marseille to ferry to an island and swim in the Mediterranean, I knew I had to bring her along. I went off on my own for a little while to spend some time with her. While walking to the cliff I had chosen I listened to her favorite songs (from the 80s of course) and I felt for sure that she was there feeling the cool breeze and smelling the sea air. I was happy that I did that, and now I’ll always know that a part of my heart is off somewhere enjoying the Islands off the coast of Marseille.

    I have plenty more of my mom and I’ll take her with me in the future as I travel so that she can travel too.

  • My First Ten Days in France

    My first ten days in France were not only exhilarating but also informative. On day one in France, it dawned on me that one is free to safety roam around. So, we did a tour of Aix-en-Provence, the home of famous artist Paul Cezanne, who greatly influenced 20th-century abstract art. The first renowned site we toured was Paroisse Cathédrale Saint Sauveur, a French church in Aix-en-Provence. I learned that it dates back to the 12th century, and it reflects different architectural styles such as Romanesque, Gothic, and Neo-Gothic. Also, I realized that majority of the ancient building in Aix-en-Provence epitomize Roman design.

    Roman temple at the Château-Bas wine estate

    The next day we visited the Entremont architecture site in the company of Dr. Guillaume Durand, a professor of archeology at the Institute of American Universities.

    Our next adventure was a wine tasting and educational tour of the Roman/Christian ruins area. On this day, my classmates celebrated my birthday, which I will never forget with local pastries, flowers, and wine from the Chateau Bas, a winery and vineyard in Provence, France.

    Birthday celebration in France!

    Later on, I attended an educational wine tasting lesson and met a wine consultant who taught me about wine tasting. I discovered that wine tasting is more than drinking wine. It encompasses analyzing the aromas, flavors and other characteristics of wine.

    Plage St Estève on the Frioul islands

    Over the weekend, we toured two big cities in France – Arles and Marseille. While at Arles, I took part in wine tasting to apply what I had learned earlier about the proper way of wine tasting. In Marseille, we enjoyed spectacular street art. Equally pertinent to mention is that during the ten days I enjoyed the French cuisine. I learned that the Moroccan and Italian traditional foods shaped French cuisine. Undeniably, the ten days were adventurous and informative. I cannot wait to visit Paris next week.

    Marseilles street art

  • To pack, or not to pack, that is the question.

    Today is my fifth day of studying abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France, and I thought I’d use this blog post to provide a little insight into what I packed for the trip that has thus far been waste of luggage space, and what I wish I had brought with me that I didn’t. I would like to preface by saying that I have a very mixed travel mindset of eagerly wanting to be overprepared, while also being rather impulsive. Professor Clark provided us with plenty of material that outlined the packing necessities, which was a huge help.

    A little bit excessive?

    There were definately a few things that I could have left at home, which would’ve saved me headache and luggage space. While in Aix, we have been walking numerous miles a day as that is the main mode of transportation within the city, and it has been in the upper 80s most days. This being said, we have been sweating A LOT. So far, doing my hair nice, personally, has not been a priority, nor a necessity. I brought a travel size kit that had a hairdryer, straightner, and curling iron in it, and the only thing I have used out of it is the straightner, and I only used it once. I found that braiding my hair has been the best option, as it looks neat and keeps it out of my face and off of my neck. I had never traveled abroad so I wasn’t sure what kinds of things would be available for me to purchase here, but I have quickly found out that almost anything can be bought here. I brought a large bottle of aloe, a large bottle of fingernail polish remover, and a lot of hair accessories that I have not used and can easily be bought at the store here if needed. I also brought five pairs of shoes, when I have only been wearing three of them. I would suggest a supportive sandal with a backstrap, some comfy sneakers, and a pair of flats.

    Oh, that wouldv’e been nice.

    There are a couple of things I wish I had brought with me that I didn’t. We have been walking so much that I think every person on the trip ended up geting blisters on their feet within the first couple of days. While bandaids are readily available here to purchase, I wish I had packed some so that I would’ve had them in those first couple of days when I was still not very comfortable with shopping here. I cannot stress enough how important it is to either pack a waterbottle or purchase one as soon as you get into the host country. I didn’t have one for the first couple of days and it was a real struggle, having to refill old plastic bottles/stress about where I could buy one. These are available in most stores here in Aix, but it would’ve been more convienient to have packed one.

    So What?

    The main thing to remember when packing for a trip abroad is to make sure you have the absolute essentials, e.i. passport, medication, credit card, vaccination card if applicable, etc., and you should be fine. My recommendation for packing is to do some research that is not as broad as just searching for general information about the country and city you will be visiting, but to do some more specific research about the types of day trips you will be taking and the climate that you will be staying in. You will most likely be able to purchase anything that you forgot once you get to your host country, so don’t sweat it!