Summerfuel

I'll start by saying I'm not your typical reviewer. I was a part of Summerfuel not as a student, but as part of the staff. What a summer! I'll start by saying that I worked with some of the best co-workers I've ever had. We really meshed and worked well together. People from all over the country were chosen as RAs from Massachusetts to California. It was an awesome combination of students from around the world and staff from around the country. Even though the program was for the students, I was able to learn a lot too, just by being around them.

We took trips to local college, and traditional tourist destinations such as Fenway Park and Quincy Market. Plenty of time for the kids to shop, eat and generally explore. Staff also got the opportunity to participate in a lot of local activities and visit Boston's best hang outs as well. The downside is the program is pretty expensive, especially when you factor in international air fare. This means that there wasn't much socio-economic diversity among the students and some of them were a it spoiled and difficult to deal with. At the end of the day though, they were good kids! While the weekend excursions were generally pretty well planned, management definitely could have been better organized and we were all overworked. Sometimes I had to sneak off just to get a bit of rest and a break from running around and I know my co-workers had to do the same. Still, a great opportunity to explore the city.

I'll start by saying I'm not your typical reviewer. In 2017 I traveled abroad with Summerfuel not as a student, but as a staff member. I was an RA with Summerfuel and escorted the group flight to Nice from NYC and back. In turn they covered my airfare which was a huge plus!

Students and staff who participate in Summerfuel Nice stay at a local high schoolin the dorms. The wing we stayed in was comfortable and clean. No air conditioning, every window had (adorably French) shutters. By closing them and blocking out the sun during the day while I was out and about with the students, and using the fans provided by the program i kept cool and didn't really miss the air conditioning anyway. What I did miss, was having wifi, but as an adult I didn't think this was a huge issue. For students under the age of 18 however, I wish there had been wifi if for no other reason than to make it easier for them to keep in touch with their parents.

To business! Working with Summerfuel gave me the opportunity to see the beautiful French Rivera in a way I know would have been near impossible financially otherwise. Weekend excursions all over the coast have the students and myself the opportunity to visit such famous locations as Monaco and Cannes, however my favorite trips were to the smaller towns. Students also participated in parasailing, beach trips, museum visits, and movie nights. I really got a feel for the region, which is incredibly beautiful and rich in culture.

Despite the Bastille Day attacks, my time in Nice was probably the most memorable experience I've had in my whole life. I was able to immerse myself in the French subject, not only in the classroom but also by practicing it on the streets of Nice. I always felt support from the staff and my peers and was able to be pushed out of my comfort zone and try new things. I will never forget the memories and friends I made in my summer abroad in Nice, France.

My time in Nice was amazing and I wish I could go back all of the time. Nice has so much to do from Promenade des Anglais, NicEtolie Mall, MAMAC museum, and of course the beach. Anytime spent in Nice will be a good time to me because of the opportunities I had there and the people I met. The teachers at Summerfueld want to help and care about your progress and the directors treat you like their children and are selfless.

Because it was such a small group of people, I felt like I got super close to everyone. Being in such a traumatic experience made us so much closer, we understand each other and talk all the time to this day. One of my favorite experiences from the program was when we went white water rafting. It was really challenging and scary but super fun and I felt like I was hysterically laughing the entire time. The bus rides there and back didn't make it less fun, it was always nice
to go away on the weekends. Overall I loved the trip so much and all of the people. I would do
It again, but I know it will never be the same.