CEA CAPA Education Abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France

My time in Aix-en-Provence was the best decision I have ever made. I got hands-on experience with the french language and massively improved my skills. The semester abroad was also a great chance for me to be independent and practice the skills needed to live alone.

Studying abroad in Southern France this past summer was by far the best experience of my life! Though I was there for 6 weeks, I knew that time would go by quickly and I would need to take in every second of it. I visited museums, historical sites, and signed up for anything that I could that would help me to experience the local culture. Studying abroad with CEA in particular was great because they made transitioning so effortless. When you get there, they discuss rules, places you should visit, how to get around, what to expect while you are abroad, and much more. Our on cite-specialists truly did become our parents for the 6 weeks we were there and the people I studied abroad with were my new family. Overall, I can confidently say that studying abroad has helped to grow my cultural footprint, and has made me a more open and healthy well-rounded individual. In those 6 weeks, I was able to interact and work with people from other countries, understand the layers and intricacy of global issues, and have greater intercultural learning. I believe that those are things that are learned through practice and experience. Because of how meaningful my experience abroad was, I am currently working towards moving and starting a career in France.

I thoroughly enjoyed my semester abroad. While the classes that I took unfortunately were not the best (my professor was very kind but he rambled on and on, so I listened a lot but did not get a change to improve my speaking that way), what truly helped my language level improve was by immersing myself in the community. I found a facebook page for babysitters and nounous in aix en Provence and I got a few babysitting jobs, all in French. Those few hours a week speaking to the kids and families were more worthwhile than my time spent in the classroom. Also my conversations with my host mom were invaluable in the long run and I saw my progress improve over the course of the semester.

My experience in Aix with CEA was unforgettable and absolutely life-changing. Not only did I meet great friends whom I'm sure will be friends for life, but I was able to immerse myself in the culture, all while feeling completely protected by CEA. CEA did an amazing job off helping me get to France, and also offering awesome cultural excursions for us. Aix is an absolutely beautiful town, and is a great location for those looking to travel. The school was also very nice and the teachers and faculty really cared about your education. While I, personally, did not love the specific academic program I was in, it was still an amazing experience that taught me many things. I would do it all again in a heartbeat!

Travelling alone to a foreign place is stressful and tedious to plan! CEA began helping me prepare even before I signed up. That is how dedicated they are to ensuring you have a great experience abroad. They always answered my questions within 48 hours (no matter how small they were) and sent many personal reminder emails as the deadlines for forms got closer. When arriving in Aix, there were a few excursions included and the onsite staff was very helpful when I had no idea what I was doing the first few weeks. Don't worry about looking dumb because there are so many others who feel the same way. In addition to study abroad, I participated in the Mobile Journalist (MOJO) program with CEA as well. With this, I took photos, videos, and made blog posts throughout the semester. Choosing to be a mobile journalist was such a great idea for me because it allowed me to share my photography with a wider community. I would recommend CEA because of their willingness to go above and beyond to help you, the included excursions, and the housing restriction that says the student must be placed in housing within walking distance of the university. To anyone hesitant about going abroad, there are so many people there to help you get to your host city and adjust to life in a foreign country.

Spending a semester in France made me more than a little nervous - I was going to be there for four months, speaking my second language, and meeting entirely new people. CEA was amazing in facilitating my experience though. From my arrival until my departure, I knew the awesome CEA staff had my back and were there for me if I needed them. My classes were fantastic and unique - unlike the normal classes I would have taken at my home university - and the cultural excursions were indescribable. While I enjoyed all my traveling, the CEA excursions were my favorite. They were well-organized so you could visit the place you were going to but also have free time to relax a bit, and the food was always fantastic. If CEA offers any kind of food, you have to take it. I really loved going abroad with CEA, and I would recommend it to anyone considering a study abroad program.

I loved studying abroad in Aix. It's such a beautiful city with a strong history and breathtaking architecture. The center is very walkable and accessible. The Cours Mirabeau is the most iconic promenade street where a market takes place in the morning to mid-afternoon. In every corner, you can find amazing, ornate fountains of all shapes and sizes. A fun way to get acquainted with the city is to walk around and find as many fountains as you can! These fountains can then serve as rendezvous places or points of reference so you don't get lost during the first few weeks. What I loved the most about living in Aix was able to experience life in Provence. Through CEA excursions, I was able to discover many beautiful, small villages nearby that show the calm, rural life in various areas in Provence. One of my favorite experiences was visiting the village of Trets during their garlic festival. We were able to dance and interact with the locals, which really helped with language acquisition. These small villages are hidden wonders. Aix's wonderful program advisers have very detailed handouts explaining transportation to several of these villages, their history, and things to do and see. If they do no have a handout for a specific location, they will go out of their way to help you research. I really enjoyed my language course because I was in such a diverse class, which gave me such a distinct experience. There were students from at least four different countries, from youth to middle-aged students who were all there to learn French for different reasons, not just to study abroad. It made me open my eyes and feel even more grateful for the amazing opportunity and choice to study abroad. I felt at home with host family. By the end of the program, it was very hard to say goodbye.

Living in Aix en Provence for four months allowed me to grow and learn far more than I could have hoped for. Southern France has an inviting culture full of relaxation and enjoyment of each passing moment. The days were often full of sunshine allowing for endless exploration of the charming provencal town. I was so happy experimenting with new foods, visiting parks and cafes, meeting the locals and going to class. My experience was about being in the present moment, being here now, and not always being so caught up with the past or future. This program was beyond amazing and let me live my best life, I highly recommend it.

This past summer, I studied abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France for six weeks. I lived in a homestay with a divorced mother and her 20 year old daughter. They spoke just a few words of English. Shortly after landing in France, I was welcomed by Alexia and her mom, Karen. They were so warm and welcoming and made me feel at home which is exactly what I needed since I was 4,000 miles away from home and everything I knew for the very first time. My first night in Aix was very overwhelming and kind of rough but I felt a million times better less than 24 hours later, meeting the CEA staff. Throughout the six weeks, I knew there was always someone to talk to in the CEA office, which was conveniently located just around the corner from school. I would completely recommend CEA to someone who is interested in studying abroad. In addition to the exceptional staff, they also offered several excursions that other programs did not have. We had an all day excursion in the medieval town of Les Baux de Provence and smaller activities in the city like wine tasting and soap making. We even had an amazing farewell dinner a few days before our program ended. Studying abroad with CEA was an amazing experience that I would recommend to everyone. I cannot imagine having gone abroad any other way!

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I absolutely loved my time abroad. Of course, there are ups and downs; it is definitely a challenge, but everything was worth it. I have made friends that I still travel with, I learned more about myself and life in such unexpected ways, and I now have a new home. Aix is the perfect place to study abroad: it's close to the big city (easy travel access), close to the beach and other natural beauty, the culture is FANTASTIC, and the life in a small city is the best of both worlds. Aix has so much to do, while still being safe and easy to walk around in. You truly develop your own life there and it's magical. While being relatively small, you get immersed in the culture really well. Vivienne and Nancy are amazing guides and second mothers to everyone I studied with. My host mom and I still talk and I will never forget her delicious French dinners. I would never trade this experience for the world. Wish I could bask in the Provencal sun while drinking wine and eating baguette and cheese again <3.

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Studying abroad in Aix was truly incredible. I have never had a semester filled with so much beauty before. From making lifelong friends, to having picnics in the park, to traveling nearly every weekend, to eating the most delicious and clean food - everything about my time in Aix was nothing short of breath taking. CEA was a phenomenal program to go through. Their pre departure help was very informative and they were sure to email you with updates about where you should be with your application. Upon arriving in Aix, the staff there went above and beyond. They picked us up from the airport, gave us a scavenger hunt activity so we got to know the city, organized weekend bus excursions and their door was always open if we ever wanted to talk. Some of my favorite memories though.... - hiking Mount St Victoire and realizing I have a fear of heights! LOL - eating an enormous amount of croissants AND fresh veggies every day - becoming buds with the coffee guy next to our school - learning from some of the smartest professors I have ever had Studying abroad is truly a once in a lifetime experience and something that you will never stop unpacking.

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Studying abroad in Aix through CEA was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The CEA office was always so helpful and answered my many questions leading up to leaving for the program. Upon arrival and throughout the entirety of my semester, the staff and interns were extremely helpful and almost always available to answer every question. One of the CEA interns even accompanied me to a pharmacy to help me explain something about my medication when I needed help. There were tons of "free" (included) activities and frequent opportunities for awesome experiences. I would recommend this semester to everyone!

-Challenging and varied courses all taught in French -Various living options -Great location, touristy but easy to get around -Moderate climate: warm but always windy -Program-sponsored events such as wine and cheese tastings, excursions, weekly café meetings -Friendly and helpful administrative staff

This program has been absolutely incredible. There have been so many people that we’ve met, so many places we’ve seen, and so many things that we’ve experienced. Our program leaders are the sweetest people on the planet, and want nothing more than for us to feel comfortable and happy during our stay here. The school is so incredible, and I feel like I’m actually learning the language. The program with CEA is called, French Language and Culture. The program itself definitely lives up to the name. We have been on so many cultural excursions in France as well as a really cool trip to Barcelona! We meet great new people who teach us so many things about french culture (including delicious food) and french language. I love this program and I honestly believe that this was one of the best decisions in my life, and I would definitely do it again in a heartbeat.

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I intended to study abroad in Paris during the Spring of 2016, however, due to the terrorist attacks in Paris that November, I switched last minute to Aix. The staff at CEA couldn't have been better in making sure everything was a smooth transition for me. As soon as I arrived, I knew that Aix was where I was meant to be. The on-site staff in Aix are the most wonderful people ever. They are so kind and helpful. They really care about each and every student, and they seek to make the experience something truly special for everyone. Whenever I needed something or even just needed advice, they were there for me. They helped to plan so many cultural experiences for us, and I know that I wouldn't have had the experiences I did if it were not for them planning excursions and cultural immersion things for us to do. I was able to meet French students through them, and they paired us up with a local business school where we would do language exchanges and attend events at their school. I have some of my best friends because of this program. I loved it so much in Aix that I am returning for a second time this summer to intern. When I emailed the women who run the program in Aix, they helped me every step of the way, even though I am technically not a student through their program. This was more than a study abroad opportunity, this was an opportunity of a lifetime that I hope everyone gets to experience.

To start, I loved Nancy and Vivienne! They could not have been better at helping us and always making sure we were okay. I love Aix-en-Provence. If I could go back tomorrow, I would. I love the people, the culture, the warmth. Everything about my experience was what I expected and more from a study abroad program. The academics are good. I love Aix-Marseille. The professors were all enthusiastic and although their teaching methods are different from those of the U.S., that's what study abroad is for, to learn new methods and way of life. All in all, I loveddddddddd Aix and CEA. Loved it so much I'm hoping to go back to Aix-Marseille for Grad school! <3

I did not think my study abroad experience would be better than the daydreams I had before I left, until I was abroad with CEA. Aix-en-Provence was amazing and magical place, but what really made me fall in love was the staff at CEA. They were the best people to have by my side while learning a new culture. From the flower markets to the parks, Aix is by far my favorite place in the world. I would never have thought there would have been people as caring and wonderful as Viv and Nancy. They are truly incredible people, and I am lucky to have had them by my side. Aix has everything at your fingertips from small boutiques to fantastic hikes. I would never trade my experience in Aix or with CEA for anything in the world.

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Aix with CEA was so amazing... It was the perfect place to study abroad. Not a city, but a perfectly walkable and beautiful place. Cafes line the streets and people are so friendly. There are young people everywhere since it is a university town. I stayed with a host family which was great. So good for so many reasons--food, French, cozy home. CEA made it so much better too. If I could rate the staff 10+++ I would. They are like your second moms while you're in France. If you have the chance go with CEA to Aix... You won't regret it. When you come back to the US you'll be dreaming of it every day I can promise that! Go go go

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I was abroad in the Spring of 2015 and loved my time there so much! I wish I went for a whole year! The best part of this program specifically it really builds comradery between the other students in the same program and yourself. I've truly found friends for life! The living situation was ideal, woke up every morning, opened the window, and took in the fresh Provençal air. The weather and climate were ideal! Compared to the Northeast it was paradise with temperatures never dropping below freezing so it meant no snow! Plus there was hardly any rain so the sun was shining and it was warm almost every day. I would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone who wants to go abroad, even if you don't know any French!

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I had the best experience with CEA Aix-en-Provence. Vivienne and Nancy are knowledgable, fun, and welcoming. The town is beautiful, and I fell in love. Furthermore, the classes I took at Aix-Marseille University were wonderful. I learned a ton and would recommend this program to anyone.

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