End of Year Sprint

Hey guys,

Please forgive the sparcity of my posting as of late (as if anyone is reading... ;)). It's the end of the school year and I'm trying my best to keep up with everything!

When summer finally gets here I will make up for it with lots of new content!

Until then,

-Jess

More Canada Details

Bonjour,

On Tuesday we had an Skype meeting with some of the folks at the Université de Moncton. Below are some of the highlights of what we found out about the program!

• There will be approximately 100 students from around Canada and the U.S. studying at the Université during the length of our stay.

• Moncton is approximately 40% french speaking. However, French is 100% required and enforced on campus, even in the dorms.

• On June 30th is when we register, get our dorm keys and attend a welcome dinner. August 1st we take our language placement test, and August 2nd, classes begin.

• Each week day we will have class from 8:00am-11:45am. 3 times per week we will have work shops and on weekends we will have culture activities!

• Our dorms are single rooms/studios with a bathroom, mini fridge and a microwave. 

• Weekday lunches will be provided in the cafeteria, while other meals will be covered by a weekly stipend which can be used at restaurants and at the grocery store.

• There is a mall about 10 minutes away from campus!

Though it's still 2 months off, the suspense is killing me! I can't wait to find out more!

À bientôt!

Billets!

Bonjour tout le monde,

It's official: The tickets are bought and we're going to Canada! A friend and I are flying in to Fredericton a few days early to see what we can see before starting classes in Moncton. Likewise, we'll be returning home at a later date to squeeze in some more exploring after the program ends.

More importantly, we were able to get a fabulous deal on airfare through Air Canada! The (second) representative who helped me was incredibly helpful and let us book a stopover in Montréal at no extra charge!

I will keep you updated as we find out more, and continue to shape our trip!

Au revoir!

Decisions, Decisions Part 2: J'irai à Aix!

Bonjour tout le monde,

As I told you in Decisions, Decisions Part 1, I have been looking for the parfait study abroad program to fulfill my wish list for spring 2014.

Ideally, it should:

• be fairly affordable
• be in a culture-rich city 
• be safe 
• allow me the opportunity to travel, and/or provide excursion opportunities 
• immerse me in local culture 
• have a homestay or apartment option 
• offer phonetics classes, and/or classes that are pertinent to my minor in tourism 

To my delight, I think I've found everything I want and need in CEA's French Language and Culture Program in Aix-en-Provence!

Lavendre - Provence

4.9/5.0 student reviews on StudyAbroad101 earned it the titles 2012 #1 Study Abroad Rankings winner, #2 "Foodie City", and #3 "Top Academic Experience".

Let me show you how amazing it is!

Aix-Marseille Univesité

 Aix-en-Provence has a Mediterranean climate with 300 days of sunshine per year. It boasts historical charm, a large student population, adequate night life and a large farmer's market that happens each and every day.

Fruits de Mer - Aix-en-Provence Marché

Being as it is a direct program, as opposed to an exchange like some of the other programs I looked at, it has an all-inclusive program fee like AIFS Cannes or Paris. Below are the included amenities:

• Personalized Advising/planning assistance/on-site staff support 
• Discounts on travel through StudentUniverse Travel Partner Program & Ticket 13 Bus discount 
• Airport reception 
• Tuition at Aix-Marseille Université (up to 18 semester hours) 
• Two to three Excursions/overnight trips
• Culture Activities: Visits to farms, the lavender fields, gourmet tastings, language exchanges, etc. 
• Social activities: weekly happy hour, afternoon and evening activities for students
• Volunteer opportunities: tutoring French school-age kids, and more upon request
• Cell phone plan!!! 
• University Gym membership 
• Housing (Shared apartment)

The above package is $11,795. Much cheaper than Cannes or Paris. However, it does not include:

Even still, this extremely well-rounded semester totals around $21,295 at most: over $5,000 less than AIFS Cannes even before extra travel and spending money.

What a victory! 

I will keep you all updated as I learn more.

Thanks for reading!