MARCH 21, 2022

Daily Life in Southern France

Rebonjour!

Alleyway on a bright blue sunny day. Surrounding tan buildings with two parked cars on either side of the cobblestone street.
A snapshot of a small walk to another building 5 minutes away to the main school building for a wine class at the end of the day.

My last blog covered travels, so I figured the next one should focus on the bulk of my experience abroad, Southern France!

Tall white pillar fountain on the right, bare trees on the left pointing up to the blue sky with a busy market underneath.
One of the many town squares with a monumental fountain in the middle during a market day.

The weather here in Aix is a stark contrast to that of McMinnville Oregon. It rarely, if ever, rains and is warm and dry. There is a great wind that is known as the Mistral winds that come from the coast. Some days it’s a nice gentle breeze, and others it nearly knocks you off your feet with one step outside.

Let’s take a look at a daily schedule of mine. I currently live with my host mom about a 30 minute walk away from the middle of town and school. If it’s a particularly nice day, I wake up a little earlier so I can enjoy my walk down to class. There are actually African Ringneck Parakeets living in downtown Aix, they flit above your head on your walk down as bright green flashes. After arriving downtown depending on if I have a morning or afternoon class I grab a bite to eat. If it’s the morning I go to my favorite boulangerie and grab a pain au chocolate and a beignet with some coffee. It’s become such routine that the lady that works mornings has memorized my order and now we talk a bit when she makes my coffee.

Walking street lined with restaurants and shops under a blue clear sky.
A picture of the Cours Mirabeau, a main street that is lined with restaurants and shops with fountains in the middle.

I then head to class for an hour or two and grab lunch in town. Sometimes hitting the market and strolling through the vendors and smelling the fresh flowers. Each day I still take in everything like it’s my first time. The architecture always blows my mind and the historical rich town and culture is a constant dream. The locals that have gotten to know me wave as I pass their shops and/or restaurants. The happiness here in the community is overwhelming. Sometimes I stumble into a new street or corner I haven’t seen before and there is a new fountain or church with beautiful art carved into the stone. Most of the time it feels like I have walked on to a movie set and I have the amazing opportunity to soak it up and live in it every day.

Fresh fruits and vegetables lined up under the sun for the food market.
The food market, always filled with fresh fruits, vegetables, cheeses, meats, and honey.
73 year old woman wearing a white and orange apron holding out a skillet with a freshly made crêpe.
My host mom Josette proudly held her crêpe out for a photo for the blog. She has been hosting students for 20 years!

At the end of the day I have to make it back to my homestay for dinner at 7pm. Due to the one mile hike to go back up to the homestay and after a long day of walking the town, I take the bus for a 15 minute ride back home. There are times our host mom will cook crêpes for dinner and they are a thousand times better than what you can get on the street.

Bright yellow flowers surrounded by other bouquets in a market setting.
The flower market in town a mere 5 minute walk from the food market.

I’m so thankful for this experience and I hope this gave you a little peak at the wonderful every day life of a study abroad student in Aix en Provence.

À bientôt!

Emma Libby

(Click here for original posting on Linfield Journals from Abroad)

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