Jenna Thornton

In 2004, Jenna Thornton left her Cleveland, Ohio roots to study abroad in Aix-en-Provence during the lavish summer season. Now, seven years later, she is running the newest and most exciting French olive oil boutique in the heart of Paris. Treat yourself to my interview with Jenna during a weekend trip she took to Aix to soak up some Provençal sunshine..

Q: Jenna, Paris must be so different from Aix! What was your experience?

J: They are two very different worlds! Provence is rich with tradition, heritage and larger than life characters who still speak the native Provençal language. I still remember enchanting strolls along the Cours Mirabeau and chatting with 'les copains' whilst people watching from a café terrace.  Not to mention the vineyards, the landscapes of Cezanne, the goat cheese, honey farms, and of course my personal passion - olive orchards and olive oil mills, continue to instill a sense of excitement within me. Paris is great but it is not home. I will always be “Americo-Aixoise”.

Q: Tell us more about your experience here in Aix...

J: On my last night in Aix as a study abroad student with CEA, I was sitting in a café on the Cours Mirabeau with my new French friends and I promised myself that I would return. In 2007, my wish came true and I came back to Aix as an English language teaching assistant in a local high school. I was also fortunate enough to help out in the CEA Aix office during the Spring of 2008, which lead Aix Program Director Vivienne Hamill and I to bond over shared passions of Provencal culture. The period of time I spent with CEA and Vivienne allowed me to discover and deepen my connections and knowledge of Provence. It really is a unique and special place - different from other parts of the world and very different from other regions in France…

Q: What is life like in Aix?

J: Aix feels like a big city but at the same time remains a small town. You cannot leave your apartment without bumping into at least one person you know. The sun shines 360 days a year, and the countryside around Aix is maybe the most gorgeous in the world. Cézanne’s Sainte Victoire mountain is visible everywhere you look.  You never run out of things to do. The city overflows with youthful energy, fine arts culture and of course the famously chic “Aixois”.

Q: How did you get involved with the olive oil industry?

J: While visiting Les Baux in 2008, one of the CEA excursion destinations, I stumbled upon a Cave aux Huiles d'Olives where I was able to taste different olive oils from the region. My eyes were opened to some of the 383 sensory profiles that can be found in olive oil. It immediately became my passion.

One thing led to another and I began giving olive oil tastings and tours in Aix and other locations throughout Provence. While giving a tour to a group of CEA students, I met Provence's “Queen” of Olive Oil. To make a long story short, this meeting changed my life, leading me to live in a chateau and to work in the most highly reputed olive oil mill in France.

Doors opened left and right and I have since traveled to multiple destinations, including California, Spain, Sicily, and Italy, attending various olive oil congresses and meeting the top names in the industry. It was during one of these expeditions that I met Olivier Baussan, international business man extraordinaire from Provence. Several months later I found myself in Paris as an oléologue, running the boutique Premiere Pression Provence in the Marais district. I will introduce the brand to New York in 2012.

Q: Did you ever suspect when you came to study with CEA in Aix in 2004 that one day you would be not only an oléologue but a French reality TV star appearing in the first French season of  Masterchef in 2010 ?
(Jenna laughs).

J: Never in a million years. Especially being the only American in a French cooking competition. People in Aix still recognize me and ask me about my experience on Masterchef. I’m very proud to have made it to the top 60 out of 18 thousand contestants. Just don’t ever ask me to make a Quiche Lorraine. (Jenna winks).

None of this would have happened if I had not taken the chance to go to Aix with CEA and study in 2004.

Q: Well, it sounds as if you have lead quite a life here in Provence!

J: Yes, it’s been filled with unforgettable experiences and I am always happy to share them.  If any future students have any question about studying in Aix I am happy to answer them at discoveroliveoil@gmail.com, or in person at Première Pression Provence located at 35 rue Charlot located in the 3ème arrondissment of Paris on the Marché des Enfants Rouge.


Vivienne Hamill acts as the Program Director for CEA programs in Aix-en-Provence, France.

Since the Americans volunteered to host November's residence hall dinner and party, we decided to prepare an authentic Thanksgiving meal for all of our deprived European friends.

Every time I try to find the words to describe my experiences, I find the word beauty. Life is far more beautiful than we give it credit.

This beauty commonly expresses itself during my weekends here in San Jose, Costa Rica, but in particular the weekend I visited Arenal - an active volcano. The first activity I experienced upon arriving at the Arenal Volcano National Park was a jungle canopy tour, where I zip-lined through the trees. The fact that the rope acted as my only sense of security between my harness and the zip-line was the coolest part of the experience. Eventually, I was pushed out into the jungle just to fly by the rope of the zip-line. It was absolutely incredible. I swung over the trees quietly, amazed at the beauty I was flying over. I couldn't help but be jealous of the birds, as they had the best view in the world. The last leg of the zip-line journey was pretty cool too. It was a 600 meter leg that I did superman style. Again, I felt like I was flying, and I loved it!

After zip-lining, I headed to the waterfall at La Fortuna. I loved standing in front of one of nature's beasts, feeling the mist on my body and its strength on my feet and in my ears. I wanted so badly to swim behind the falls but a security guard politely informed me that my wish was not an option. So instead, I swam in the river and dipped myself in the water in front of the falls.

As if that day hadn't been amazing enough, when I arrived at the hotel later that day I was stunned yet again. In one day I had traveled from beautiful nature to magnificent human creation. The hotel was probably the nicest place I will ever stay in my entire life. It had nearly 30 hot tubs/pools, some with bar islands, all that were filled by natural hot springs. My room had a balcony with a clear view of jungle and volcano. Around two or three in the morning, as I sat admiring the view and fresh air, I was able to see the volcano's rocks light up bright red and orange due to the heat of the lava. Needless to say, this was just beyond cool. I couldn't help but think about how vast the beauty of the world is and how incredibly powerful nature can be.

Shortly after, I fell asleep and slept like a rock until nearly 10 a.m. All I can say from this experience is that life is beautiful, and if you disagree, I challenge you to take another look because odds are there's something beautiful right before your eyes.


Sydney Spain is a CEA student currently studying abroad this Fall 2011 semester in San Jose, Costa Rica.

• What is an international career, and what is the global workplace?
• What skill sets are global workplace employers looking for?
• How can study abroad students better communicate their international experience?
• What can students do to articulate their experience abroad on resumes and during interviews?
• What challenges exist for those thinking of returning abroad to live and work?

While many students already realize that skills acquired during their semester abroad give them clear advantages in the job market, they don’t always know how to articulate their experience to potential employers. The goal of our presentations and dialogues this week was to give students real strategies and tools to help them fully convey the value of their international experience. These dialogues were such a success that they will become regular events on the CEA Italy calendars.

Eve Ensler, creator of "The Vagina Monologues", has a new piece of work sur scene - à Paris. "I Am An Emotional Creature", a play performed by six women of diverse nationalities, backgrounds, colors, shapes, sizes and sexual orientations, is currently playing at Ciné 13 in the 18th district.

By Kevin J.F. Murphy, PhD, Italy Academic Dean & Campus Director

Ever wonder what study abroad means for your career prospects? Or what’s really involved in living and working outside the U.S.? Students at the CEA Global Campuses in Rome and Florence will have a unique opportunity to explore these topics with CEA faculty and staff next week, thanks to a series of exciting events planned in celebration of International Education Week (IEW).

IEW is a joint initiative of the U.S. Departments of Education and State that promotes international education and exchange by preparing students around the world for the diversity of people and ideas they will inevitably encounter in today’s multicultural, multilingual global workforce—skills that CEA has long advanced through its curriculum, activities, and opportunities for exchange with local institutions and individuals. First held in 2000, today IEW is celebrated in more than 100 countries worldwide.

The Florence and Rome campuses have already kicked off IEW with the “A Day in the Life” photo contests, a chance for students to creatively showcase and reflect upon life as a student in Italy. Celebrations continue with the lecture “Land that Job: How to Sell Your Study Abroad Experience,” a talk that will outline how study abroad boosts personal development and career prospects after graduation. And for those who might be thinking la dolce vita is for them, a roundtable discussion titled “Turn Study Abroad into Living Abroad” will follow, led by CEA Rome and Florence staff members who have made Italy their adopted home.

In a statement on IEW, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan noted that "a complete education in the 21st century must teach our children about their interdependent world, and it must prepare them to be good leaders and good global citizens. International awareness and knowledge can help our children build the skills needed to communicate and cooperate with those from other nations and other cultures." We couldn’t agree more.

Cash. Moola. Benjamins. No matter how you slice it, money is money.  And for access to many experiences in life, including study abroad, money is essential. So where is this money, and better yet how can you find more for your approaching Spring program? Allow us to show you a few last-minute ways to access different types of study abroad funding. Ka-ching!

1. Scholarships

Wait, did we just say scholarships this late in the game? You bet your Andrew Jackson lusting wallet we did! Scholarships come in many shapes and sizes and from many different sources such as your university, your community, your church, private companies, etc. Therefore, the key when it comes to searching for a scholarship is to research those that fit your credentials specifically - including scholarship deadline. Some examples:

• Hit up the local library to search for quick entry scholarship guides
• Ask your parents, aunts, uncles, best friend's parents to see if their employer provides any scholarships
• Use the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid Free Scholarship Search to find a possible match (in particular, the Scholarship Matching Wizard provides tons of criteria to whittle down your scholarship search)
• Take a virtual trip to the International Financial Aid and College Scholarship site to see which scholarships are still available for Spring programs

2. Make the Money


While on the quest to find funds for your study abroad experience, the sky's the limit when it comes to finding creative ways to help rake in the dough. Here's a few ideas to consider:

• Find/apply to a part time job off-campus. Taking a job as a hostess or babysitter allows for you to make some extra cash in your spare time, in addition to having fun doing it.
• Go to your university's career center to inquire after any on-campus jobs. A 10-hour gig checking out books in the library could be just what you need to fill up your study abroad piggy bank.
• Start your own tutoring service for your peers or check to see if your university has any paid tutoring positions open. This way, you could even tie in some language practice with your money-making efforts.

 3. Go Social

You post, you tweet, you blog, but did you know that you can now raise funds socially? As a member of the most connected demographic ever, utilize your knowledge of social media to help find money for your experience abroad this Spring. Put your social skills to the test with the following ideas.


 

• MyTab, a social travel registry, allows you to use your Facebook and Twitter pages account to ask family, friends, cousins, etc. to contribute to your study abroad experience. Simply sign up and create your trip within MyTab to start rollin' in the dough!
• Post or tweet to the study abroad groups you follow through various social media outlets asking them about last minute financing ideas. Just today StudyAbroad.com shared a link to their study abroad funds page for all followers to see! Ah, the benefits of the social network.

Although seemingly hidden, the money for study abroad is out there. With an open mind and a determined work ethic, who knows what kind of gold you can uncover in these last few months before your program!

The upcoming spring semester will validate Paris’ reputation as a perennial hot spot for art, politics and gastronomy. The season will start with thousands of farm animals and tons of agricultural products arriving on the doorsteps of the capital for the annual Salon de l’Agriculture. Once the farmers head out of town on their tractors (literally), early March will see top models flocking to town and marching down the runways for Fashion week. Lagerfeld and Gaultier’s fashion caprices will then give way to the Salon des Vignerons indépendants in late March. The spring thaw in early April will then bring tens of thousands of marathoners to the annual Marathon de Paris. But the sprinters won’t be the only ones jostling for position as April and May will also play host to the first and second-round French, presidential elections. Just as this whirlwind of excitement draws to a close, and as the French turn their eyes to summer vacation, you will finally have a moment to sit on a café terrace and wonder “Is it time to leave already?”.

When deciding where to study abroad, the hot topics leading students to their decision - food, weather, location, festivals, etc. - most times do not include public transportation. A hidden gem amongst the favored city must-haves, public transportation can add to a study abroad experience just as much as its other list-topping comrades.  Discover the riches of the world's metros, a seemingly ordinary public service.

City-shrinker
While it's not always the case, many times students study in larger cities whose most desirable sites sit at polar opposite locations. Walking usually serves as the chosen mode of transportation, as walking tends to cultivate a more intimate relationship between student and city. But sometimes, let's face it, when you have to get somewhere you just want to get there and you want to move fast. Ergo, public transportation enters the mix.

Like the metros in Paris, Buenos Aires and Madrid, the subway in Shanghai and the U Bahn in Berlin, public transportation all over the world shrinks a city to a manageable size. Students can have their cake and eat it too as they enjoy the freedom to explore their favorite museum exhibition on one side of the city, yet still have time to meet their friends for a quick lunch on the other. Metros enable students to see more of what they want to see, taste more of what they crave to taste and experience more of what they've been dying to experience.

Sense of Adventure 
Configured in a chaotic web that interweaves below the city streets, many metro systems consist of several different lines, each with distinct destinations to which they transport thousands of people everyday. Jump on the line in one city, switch trains a few times, and there's no telling where you might end up! This type of freedom offers an entire world of new adventure for any student brave enough to take it on.

Be spontaneous! Plan a day in which you catch the metro at your local stop with no plan of destination in sight. Bring along a map so you can eventually make your way home, and let the underground rails introduce you to a part of your host city unseen by daylight.

People-watching Paradise
Top tip to utilize while riding the rails: Sit, watch and listen. Like clockwork, the everyday life and culture of a city plays out before spectating eyes in the depths of this underground world. For many city dwellers, utilizing public transportation acts as just another factor in their daily routine. What does this mean for you? People-watching at its finest.

Witness the cultural mannerisms, the family life, the working world and the youthful radiance of your host country as people file in and out of the metro trains. Use these opportunities to practice your language skills with the young family that just spent the day at the park, or the elderly woman gazing peacefully at her shiny black shoes. The opportunities to observe, interact and learn are endless.

Mind the Gap   
When you start to create your mental list of characteristics to look for in a study abroad city (or if you're abroad now, deciding where you want to travel) don't forget to consider the metro factor. Like the nutella-slathered crepe you'll nibble on in Paris, or the cheerfully colored buildings you'll encounter in Buenos Aires' La Boca neighborhood, metros add a disguised spice to a city, jazzing up study abroad in an unimaginable way.