Why did you decide to study abroad with IES Abroad?
Liz: I had always wanted to attain French fluency by studying in France, but I didn’t want to go to Paris. The fact that IES had a program in Provence made it extremely appealing. Additionally, my sister had just finished a semester with IES in Vienna, which she adored. With her recommendation, the decision was easy.
What made this experience unique and special?
Liz: Arles is a small village where everyone knows everyone. I found that most of my personal growth came from having taken advantage of this fact. One of my most defining experiences in Arles was working as a volunteer usher at “Les Suds a Arles,” the music festival. Every night for a week I reported to the ancient Roman amphitheater where the concerts were held. At work I heard world-famous music (for free!), made friends with my coworkers, and greatly improved my French. Other such notable experiences include playing Scrabble with my host-grandparents, spending every morning reading comic books at the library, taking a bike trip through the salt marshes of the Camargue, serving as a model for a famous Parisian hair stylist at a professional school in Aix-en-Provence, and sharing coffee with an elderly photographer I met at the fountain one day. If you were willing to talk to everyone you met and really put yourself out there, the possibilities were endless.
How has this experience impacted your future?
Liz: While I was not always thrilled with life in Arles, I learned that experiences really are what you make of them. This lesson has spilled over into all other aspects of my life. Now, when things don’t turn out the way I had planned, I know to take charge of what I can control and make the most of it. Arles was the perfect environment in which to learn this lesson. With vast resources packed into a very small town, Arles is waiting for you to get to know it, and in doing so, get to know yourself. It’s up to you to take the plunge.