Study abroad: not just for studying, by Katie McCall

Though an important part of studying abroad is the classes you take and the things you learn in the classroom, much of the learning done while abroad is through experiences and travel. Living here in the South of France has given me incredible experiences to travel around whether it is just for a day or for a whole weekend. I had been given the advice to “go out and see as much as you can”, while I wanted to do this I never quite understood exactly why everyone was telling me this, until I did. So here are some of my recent travels and the things I have experienced in my first month and a half in Aix.

Château Val Joanis is a vineyard just a little bit outside of Aix, and one of hundreds filling the south of France. Going to a vineyard for the first time was an incredible experience, it gave me the opportunity to learn about how wine is made and how to properly taste. As wine is such an important part of the identity of the region, learning about it is almost essential.

Cassis is a beautiful coast town in the south of France. Adjacent to Cassis is Cap Canaille, the largest sea cliffs in France. There is an incredible view of the Mediterranean and the costal town of Cassis from atop this beautiful cliff. This is easily a day trip from Aix and could be paired with a short trip to La Ciotat.

About 3 hours northeast of Aix are the French Alps, a beautiful weekend trip for skiing, snowboarding, or even just spending time in the mountains.

We all know Paris, the city of love, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe.. At only a 3-hour train ride, which in itself is a beautiful scenic trip through the French countryside, Paris is a fabulous weekend trip. As a city far bigger than Aix, Paris offers a completely different look on French life.

As the second largest city in France, Marseille has so much to offer and is only a 30-minute bus outside of Aix. The history of Marseille goes back to the beginning of the Provence region when the Greeks first settled the port town. There is an endless amount of things to do in Marseille but a day spent simply wandering around the old port area is fabulous on a warm day.

Nice is like a scene out of a romance movie, the water is turquoise and vibrant and the surrounding town is painted colors of pink, yellow and other pastel shades. Every February there is a three-weekend festival in Nice to celebrate Carnival. The streets are filled with confetti, laughter, music, dancing, and elaborate parade floats.