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

Studying abroad with CEA in Aix-en-Provence, France, was the most incredible opportunity and I would give anything to do it all over again. From the moment I stepped off the plane and was greeted by CEA staff who kindly directed me to my homestay and made sure that I made it there safely, I knew that I had picked the perfect program to study with. There were so many opportunities for the students to connect and travel together, with weekly excursions and cafe hours, not to mention other meals and wine and cheese tastings, all put on and organized by the directors. They never hesitated to check in with the students and help when in need, and I don't think my experience would have been the same without them. I never felt scared or worried while abroad, which was something I heavily anticipated upon moving to a new and foreign city.

CEA is hands down the most welcoming, engaging, helpful and friendly (I could go on for hours) program, and I would recommend them to EVERY student studying abroad. Thank you so much for making this semester the best 4 months of my life, I will miss my directors and the city dearly.

À la prochaine!

Towards the end of my semester, I really wanted to go to the Camargues. By expressing this wish to Vivienne, one of the coordinators, I got my wish. Not only did she help me figure out which bus to use, she also talked to one of her former students who lived and worked in the area and got us a free wildlife tour. My friends and I had so much fun, and none of it would be possible if it weren't for the great work of our coordinators.

I was skeptical at first, when I decided to study abroad because I had never been out of the country before, or away from my friends and family for that long. However, the CEA Aix-en-Provence staff quickly made me feel at home, helping me with any questions I had. All the event they had planned, fit in perfectly, and helped me get to know my fellow classmates as well as the city itself. I learned so much and experienced so many new things in this short amount of time abroad, and it would not have been possible without the help of CEA Aix-en-Provence. I went places and met people that I will never forget. I cannot wait to return one day

Everything about Aix was amazing. Aix is smaller in comparison to other French cities, but we never ran out of things to do. Our program directors, Nancy and Vivienne, were amazing and did everything they could to make sure we had a great time. The entire CEA program bonded really well, we made a lot of lifelong friends :). The excursions we went on through CEA had a lot of variety, from going to Mont Saint Victoire or visiting vineyards. It was a wonderful Aix-perience.

I would love to start off by saying Aix-en-Provence is a beautiful town in the South of France. It is not to big to get lost, but also not to small to get bored. There are many things to do in this town, but if that is not enough you can get on the Cart Treize bus and see the beautiful city of Marseille. There is so much rich history for all Provence area, and people are really nice. The program directors in Aix were also amazing. I loved them so much, and they are always on top of their things especially when it comes to the safety of the students in the program. I would recommend everyone to at least visit this town!

CEA gave us a ton of cool excursion options but my favorite by far was when we went to Nice and Monte Carlo! In Nice we were able to walk around and explore the city on our own, looking in all the shops and even hiking to the beautiful chateau, and then CEA got us tickets to the Bataille des Fleurs for Carnaval. This was probably the coolest thing I did the whole semester, it was a huge parade where everyone kept handing you gorgeous flowers! Then we went to Monte Carlo and got dressed up for a delicious dinner and hung out at the casino and other cool places! The next day we had free time to see all the sites of Monte Carlo! This trip was so much fun and I'm so glad CEA planned it for us!

Studying abroad with CEA in Aix en Provence was the best decision I ever made! Leaving your home for 3 months to a year can be scary but the CEA staff and the friends you make really do become your family. I love Vivienne and Nancy; they are amazing and super helpful if you ever need to make a doctor's appointment or even just a haircut. I have made lifelong memories and friends through my experience with CEA and I cannot recommend this program enough!

This program changed my life.
The courses were extremely rewarding. I took a photography class and a global fashion marketing class. The photography class was incredible. My professor tailored the class based on what kind of camera each student had. She taught us how to use OUR cameras, instead of using blanket terms for everyone. I would also say that the class had a philosophy of photography component to it. We talked not only about photographers, but about why. The global fashion marketing class was also extremely rewarding. We did an in depth market analysis of a french brand. My was Sézane, and I challenged myself more than I ever have before to get to know that company, who they were trying to reach, their product lines, and the overall aesthetic.
The city was also incredible. The architecture was so intricate it was paralyzing. I often found myself unable to walk because I was so immersed in the beauty surrounding me. The weather was perfection. The people in the community were very kind, and I always felt safe walking around the city alone. I highly recommend spending time at CocoBoheme, or any other small local shop you find. I made some lasting friendships with some french students there. Make international friends.
When you go on incursions, or explore your own city, think like a tourist, but act like a local. Learn everything you can about the history, any story about a building. Do the touristy things, but once you do spend 2 hours at a cafe soaking the beauty in around you. Struggle to speak the language, listen for the Aixoise accent. Try to seem like a local.
You get out what you put in. This program gives you the resources you need to have the greatest summer of your life, I have left you some tips on how to make your AIXperience as great as possible, now it is up to you to take the risk. You will love every second, I promise.