Learn About Study Abroad in Aix-en-Provence From A CEA Student

Bonjour ! My name is Jenna Thornton and I am a former CEA student and current intern with the CEA study abroad program in Aix-en-Provence, France. I came to Aix in the summer of 2004 with the CEA program and had one of the best experiences of my life! Aix is such a gorgeous city and Vivienne and Karen made it possible for us to experience so many fascinating aspects of Provence that since the time I left I had always wanted to come back. I returned to Aix this past fall as an English teaching assistant working in a French high school. I am delighted to have the opportunity to be helping out in the CEA office a couple days each week with social and cultural activities for the students. It is exciting to help the current students discover and experience the splendor of Provence and I am happy to once again be a part of the CEA program.

We have been having a very exciting spring semester here in Aix so far! Here is sample of some of the various CEA sponsored social and cultural activities that we have done thus far...

Tour of Puyricard Chocolaterie
When you mix two fantastic elements like France and chocolate, how can you not have a great time? Eight students and I recently took a short trip to the charming village of Puyricard just north of Aix where one the most celebrated chocolateries of the region makes its heavenly treats. As we were taken on a tour of the factory, we were able to see (and taste!) how they make their calissons (the specialty of Aix) and all of their various delectable chocolates. As it was getting closer to Easter, all the workers were in full swing making everything from huge chocolate eggs to hand decorated chocolate bunnies and other spring delights. After sampling a delicious variety of goodies along the tour, we were then offered a mouth-watering plate of all different kinds of chocolates which I have to admit we devoured!! Needless to say, we returned to Aix extremely content!

Do the Samba Like You Wanna!!
One of my absolute favourite things to do is dance, so I was very excited to accompany a group of CEA students to a Samba Soirée organized by CEA in conjunction with a South-American style restaurant that offers all kinds of dance courses and dance parties here in the heart of Aix. A group of about sixteen students and I celebrated Valentine’s Day with a night of Carnavale-style fun! The night started with a private lesson in the crazy hip-shaking dance of Brazilian street samba. What a class! As someone who has done ballroom style Samba for some years, let me tell you, it was crazy! After working up an appetite, we took a break and enjoyed a enormous assortment of more tapas than we could eat as the live Brazilian band stared to warm up. We worked off our yummy dinner by shimmying and shaking the night away to fantastic music with the large crowd of Aixios partying it up with us. Vive le samba and vive la carnavale!

Meet Marseille
Marseille is the second largest city in France and has many different faces. It can be a bit daunting if you don’t have your bearings. To help the students see some of the prettier sides, I took an eager group of about a dozen students for a sunny Saturday afternoon stroll through the city. We started with a short tour of a savonnerie or soap manufacturer. This, of course, isn’t just any soap. Marseille is world famous for it’s soap industry, which is strictly regulated in regards to a minimum percentage of olive oil, etc. After a bit of learning and exploring, we worked up an appetite, so we headed down to the oldest bakery in Marseille where we each had a giant navette, a biscuit-type goodie that originated in Marseille. After a visit of the Abbey of Saint Victor, we took the scenic route along the Vieux Port to do some shopping on La Canèbiere, two of the most famous areas in Marseille.
Finally, we returned to Aix with a delightful impression of diverse Marseille.

Cowboys and Camargue
Of course, when you think of cowboys, you think of the Wild West, horses, cattle, campfires…things typically American; a drastically different image than when one thinks of chic France. But France is a beautiful country and, although drastically smaller than the U.S., has varied regions and is about just as diverse!! In fact, there are cowboys, called Gardians, in a very unique region in France. We recently did a weekend excursion to this distinctive area, so sit back and relax, and let me share with you picture of this special region.

Nestled in the southern-eastern area of France is a region between Marseille and Montpellier known as Camargue. It is a vast and flat delta, whose namesake can be found throughout France on its’ two famous exports of rice and salt. Upon discovering the Camargue, one is impressed with the bulls or taureaux which roam throughout the 150 bull farms or manades in the area. Beautiful white Camargue horses cannot be kept in barns or stables; they prefer to roam freely throughout the marshy plains among the wild pink flamingos which live in the region as well. During the weekend, we were able to see the bulls up close on a tractor ride through a manade before feasting on the most fabulous traditional provençal lunch. After visiting the picturesque sea-side village of Stes. Maries-de-la-Mer, we had the privilege to explore this magnificent region on horseback through the marshy terrain and view the famous wild flamingos in their natural habitat.

The adventure did not stop there. One usually associates bull fights with Spain, but the South of France has some amazing spectacles as well. They are a bit different though, as the goal is not to kill the bull. We went to a Course Camarguaise in which the raseteurs win by removing ribbons tied onto the bulls horns. We had a beautiful sunny day in the arena to witness this exciting and unpredictable sport. Afterwards, while enjoying another delicious dinner, we saw a fantastic show of flamenco dancing and guitarists!

And you thought France was just wine and cheese…

Carnavale on the French Riviera
Carnavale, which seems to be celebrated worldwide, is celebrated throughout France on different dates in each city. However, the Carnavale capital of France is Nice, which is also the capital of the French Riviera. So CEA had to take the students there for a weekend excursion to the Carnavale Parades of Nice, followed by an exciting time in Monte Carlo and Monaco.

The Parade of Flowers is complete with gorgeous floats, flowers being tossed into the crowd, confetti, music, and all kinds of excitement. Flowers abound in Nice, and the students got to witness this as well at the famous Flower Market. One of my personal favourite things in Nice is the socca. Socca is a niçoise specialty that is like a flatbread made out of chickpea flour and olive oil and is cooked in a special giant pan in a special oven. You can taste it at the large market in Nice or visit the very niçoise Chez Réné which features all kinds of spécialités niçoise, such as farcis niçoise and beignettes des fleurs de courgettes (fried zucchini flowers).

The fun continued in Monte Carlo with dinner, dancing, and bit of gambling for those who were feeling lucky. Of course, one can’t go to Monaco without visiting the luxurious palace or the cathedral where Princess Grace is buried. A royal weekend was had by all.

Running a Marathon While Studying Abroad in France

A post from a student in one of our study abroad programs in France.

On Sunday, April 20th, 2008, when most of my group mates were just getting ready to go to bed, I was waking up before the sun to start stretching. When I arrived in Antibes to study at CERAM-EAI in the French Riviera with CEA, I never thought that at any point I would be running a half marathon, but when Kristin, our director, said that there was a race in Nice, I figured it would be a great idea to get into shape since I wasn't doing any other physical activity. I signed up to do the 10k race, and began to train for it. I'll admit I was setting my sights a little high for it being my first race, but I figured I could do it. After about a month of on-again off-again training, it was finally one week until the race, and my knees were bugging me. I decided to rest that week for the big race, and hope that it was all for the better. Kristin and Gerry picked Noah and I up, and we headed off to the race. We ran in a group and were talking about the possibility of Noah and I continuing after the 10k for the whole half marathon, or 21k, to see if we could do it. I decided by the 4th kilometer that I was going to go the distance, but I did have to finish the 10k first before I could do the whole race. I went through the 10k finish, got back onto the race path, and continued to run. I had to play catch-up with the group because when I finished the 10k, they continued on the path, but I did end up catching up with Noah and almost Kristin, to finish the Marathon in 2:08:42. I was extremely pleased with finishing that quickly, for it being my first race ever and only training for the 10k! The program here has been excellent, especially since I live 50 meters from the Mediterranean sea, but I also think I found a new hobby that I can really appreciate, thanks to the experiences offered by my program. This semester will definitely be one to remember.

Joshua Kearns

CEA French Riviera Sophia Antipolis, Spring 2008

Last Chance to Save on an Unforgettable Spring in Europe!

There's never been a better opportunity to save. Don't miss out on your chance to save $500 to $1,000 and have an unforgettable semester at one of CEA's GlobalCampuses! CEA is still enrolling for a limited time so apply for your study abroad between now and November 10th and save in the following cities - Paris, Florence, Rome, Madrid and Seville. But don't wait - the remaining spaces will fill quickly!

Tired of the traditional classroom?
CEA has launched a new approach to learning. Take full advantage of the study abroad experience by allowing your host city and culture to provide you with an incredible platform for learning. The CEA GlobalCampus Network employs an active learning method through cutting-edge technology equipped throughout and the use of the city itself as a backdrop to the curriculum, immersing you in the local environment in order to truly maximize this incredible experience that is study abroad.

Want Something Different?
CEA’s GlobalCampus programs are designed to take full advantage of the international experience through hands-on coursework designed to use the host city as your learning environment.

• Explore the ancient processional routes like the Via Paplis and the Via Peregrinorum

• Visit the chambers of Parliament and Senate

• Participate in the signature “Living Italy” course

• Visit food markets, wine production facilities, enology and gastronomy international fairs through the Culture of Food and Wine in Spain class

• Travel to the Paris Air Show at the famous Le Bourget Airport and meet with Boeing and Airbus sales teams to discuss their competitive marketing and financial strategies

• Engage in important dialogue with rights activists from Amnesty International and UNESCO headquarters in Paris

• Ride the bullet train to Brussels for meetings both with the American Mission to the EU and with high-level representatives of the European Commission

• Visit the closed rooms of the Prints and drawing Collection of the Uffizi Gallery
  

• Try your hand at drawing and fresco painting during specialized studio sessions

• Visit Florence restoration laboratories to see famous artworks from the Uffizi being repaired by experts

• Gain unique perspectives on the terrorist challenges facing Spain by assessing trends in terrorist group strategies, tactics and targets and also examining counter-terrorist measures

• Experience the rich Christian, Jewish and Muslim heritage including a visit to a flamenco music show after having listened to Jewish and Muslim music to reflect upon their current day influences.

CEA Study Abroad will take you there. By using the ever increasingly relevant theme of globalization, students will gain inter-cultural competencies that are signature elements of the GlobalCampus Network. You won’t find this program anywhere else so apply for your study abroad today!


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