Studying in the heart of Provence

I spent two quarters, Fall 2008 and Fall 2009, studying in Lacoste, France with Savannah College of Art and Design and had the most incredible experience of my lifetime. The school is perched on top of a hill in a little ancient town of 300 residents. It's located in the heart of Provence, in a region known as the Luberon region. I felt like I was at a sleep away camp even though I was there to attend school and study.

The dorms are traditional French country homes - they are little houses made of stones. The dorms included all the household goods - linens, dishes, soap, hangers, and even water bottles! The food in the dinning hall are absolutely delicious and many of the menu items are real traditional French food such as Quiche, crepes, strawberry tarts and even bread and cheese!

They offered a variety of courses including photography, drawing, art history, jewelry design, etc. The professors were top notch as they were very knowledgeable about the subjects they teach. In many of the courses, professors took us on field trips to different parts of Provence such as Arles, Aix-en-Provence, Pont-du-Gard, Marseilles, and Avignon. In my art history courses, we visited several historical sites and the professors gave us lectures on the site. In my photography courses, we visited many destinations that allowed us to take unique photographs.

The beautiful scenery of Provence, which included mountains, vineyards, and lavenders, provided us students, many of whom were artists, many opportunities to explore our creativity by drawing, painting, photographing and socializing in the countryside.

All in all, I was provided with a well rounded education that went beyond outside of the classroom.