week one in aix-en-provence.

view from our balcony

How am I lucky enough to spend four months here? I am living in Aix-en-Provence, France and studying abroad at IAU (Institute for American Universities). This city is absolutely beautiful. Dating back to the second century,  Aix is a city located in the south of France very close to the coast. The city is known for its beautiful fountains, churches, cobblestone streets and markets every morning. I am abroad with my friends, Kathleen and David from Sewanee for the semester. Kathleen and I live together in a lovely Mediterranean two-story home two minutes outside of the center of town. There is a little lane coming down from the busy street in town that leads us to our beautiful home surrounded by shrubbery looking out on to many different roof tops. "C'est tranquil" as our host mother, Danielle would describe it. It is very quite, aside from the sporadic cat meows during the day. Kathleen and I share a room that has its own bathroom, two twin beds, two armoires, 15 foot ceilings and our own balcony overlooking the red roof tops and blue skies. Our host mom is delightful, even though she does not speak ANY English. I was so scarred the first day when she picked us up from the bus station, because I never thought I would be able to communicate with her only in French. However, I have caught on really quickly, and our daily dinners have really helped me to improve my conversation skills. Kathleen is a few steps ahead of me, and serves as my personal translator and tour guide haha... I do not know what I would do without her. We both finish eachothers sentences at dinner to carry along conversations with Danielle.

The food is amazing in Aix. Danielle cooks us great meals that leave Kathleen and I beyond satisfied. Every meal starts out with a salad adorned with toppings ranging from chick peas and beets to melon and prosciutto. Sometimes we get quiche and brie along with our salads. She cooks very healthy which Kathleen and I appreciate. It has been weird not attending an exercise class during the day or going to the gym. I miss it a lot. Even though we walk SO much during the day, I miss the dance classes my mom and I took during the summer. The food around town is amazing as well (not to start a blog similar to 'Julie and Julia')... but it is veryyy good. There are Boulangerie's and Patisserie's on every one of the windy streets here in Aix, however, I have not indulged in the famous croissants, eclairs and baguettes yet. Probably for the best. Also, the coffee's here are very different from in the United States. They drink out of very tiny expresso cups and there is NO splenda in sight. The coffee place that Kathleen, David and I go to makes the strongest coffee, and since the French believe in a prolonged rest period for coffee... there is no "to go cups." Its different, but it is a very nice civilized and relaxed way of life.

Les Dejeuner des Canotiers by Auguste Renoir

On the first day of our orientation, a lady spoke to the group of students about etiquette in Aix. She talked about the fact that people do not smile at strangers in France, and that you are not supposed to look people in the eye. Mind you, these are two things I have been raised to do since I was very young. My mother always told me, "the best thing you can wear is a smile." So, for me, this "no smiling business" has been quite a challenge. However, I am not here to become French, but rather study the French culture. So... I am going to smile as much as I want, and choose not to listen to that bit of advice. Kathleen, David and I are taking mostly the same classes. I am taking three French classes to satisfy my requirements for my French minor, and two classes in English. I am taking one grammar course, a film course and a theater class (to perfect my conversation) which are all in French. My two favorite classes so far are my Art History course which focuses on the Impressionism Movement and my Drawing and Painting course. They are both taught by this professor who I really like. He was born in the United States, but has spent his entire adult life living in Aix and teaching at IAU. He is brilliant. He loves Sewanee students and is very good friends with my French Professor in Sewanee, Professor Poe. I just completed my first assignment for my Art History course evaluating the relationship between form and content in a piece that "responded to us." I chose a piece by Renoir, Les Dejeuner des Canotiers, which was from the Impressionism Era. I wrote about how the piece used inviting colors to ellaborate on the relaxed french culture.  We take our art class in a building which is a thirty minute walk out of town. The school is based in the countryside, and is the location of many of Cezanne's paintings. I have never taken a Drawing or Painting course before, so I am very excited for this class. During the First class we focused on figure drawing. We had to sketch a nude model for 3 hours. It was not something I have ever done before, but it was interesting and not as uncomfortable as I had imagined. We are expected to sketch every day, I am pretty excited to see how I progress.

Cours Mirabeau, Aix-en-Provence

We have gone out two or three times since we have been here for a week. The first night we met up with  the group who is studying here in Aix from Vanderbilt University. One of our friends from Sewanee, Lizzie, is in their program. They have a beautiful apartment right off of Cours Mirabeau, which is comparable to the Park Ave. of Aix. We went out to a few bars with the group, but at the end of the day, I think the kids from Sewanee would opt for our traditional fraternity house versus the loud techno blaring night club. We went to go see Inception in English at a movie theater here in town. It was funny to see an American movie with French subtitles. Last night we went out, and at one bar, we asked to use a chair at a table full of twenty year old French kids... and they promptly invited us to sit with them. They were very helpful helping us to speak French while we helped them correct their English. I have not really been shopping yet, besides essentials, but the scarves and table cloths are absolutely stunning. I have my eye on a few at the market open on Wednesdays. Tomorrow our school leaves for Nice et Cannes et Monte Carlo for two days.

I have had alot of fun skyping with everyone so far! It is kind of hard with the time difference, because we are 6 hours ahead. But I miss everyone very much!

xox Au Revoir,
Molly  p.s. here are some more pictures of my room and view.