Studying abroad has been one of the highlights of my time at Carleton! I already explained how I chose this program in this blog post, if you’re interested. As I plan for ways to get back to Europe in the next year, this photo blog contains some of my favorite memories from my time in Aix-en-Provence!
All of these pictures were captured on the love of my life, my little blue digital camera. Having a something to take photos on that isn’t my phone always kept me grounded in the moment, and I love using it at Carleton too!
A friend of mine took this photo– I’m on the left with my blue camera!
In Provence
The central square in my host city, Aix-en-Provence!
One of my favorite places to visit was the Palais Longchamp in Marseille, only a 10 euro bus ride from Aix. The building contains an art museum and a museum of natural history– and both are free!
One of the first cities we visited on an excursion was Cassis. Our program paid for a lovely boat ride to visit the calanques, little rocky alcoves where locals go to sunbathe. We also bought strawberries and cheese at a local market!
We also went on an excursion to Arles, one of the many places where Van Gogh painted. As an Art History major, it was so cool to learn the history of French painting in the places where it happened.
Field Trips
For one of my classes, History of Impressionism, we spent a weekend in Paris. Our Saturday included a whole nine hours spent in the Louvre (back entrance pictured above). We were the day before it got robbed, but if you see me wearing rubies around campus don’t question it.
The field trips also gave us plenty of time to explore! Here’s me and my friend Lily seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time!
For my history class on France During the Occupation, we spent a weekend in Paris and Normandy. Here’s me and my friend Addie about to dive into the English Channel.
Independent Travel
One of my other favorite parts of studying abroad was getting to do some independent travel! Lily and I spent a weekend in Madrid where I got to practice my Spanish; more on how I learned Spanish at Carleton here!
Over fall break, some friends and I splurged and spent a whole week in Ireland. Our favorite city was Galway and we spent so many hours knitting hats in pubs.
At the end of our time abroad, we decided to spend a little more than 24 hours in Rome. It was an absolutely insane whirlwind, but we got to touch the Colosseum!
Friends!
And of course, the best part of studying abroad was the friends I made along the way.
Ella, Sharona, and Schuylar in Rome!
Lily and I in Madrid!
Sydra and I on a Saturday in Aix!
Kaia, Rowan, and Maddie in Ireland!
Olivia and I out for dinner in our host city!
Ryan and Emma at l’Arc de Triomphe!
And the whole gang all together on our last night in Aix!
Emma (she/her/hers) is a sophomore prospective Art History major/European Studies minor from Attleboro, Massachusetts. When she’s not in class, you can probably find Emma engrossed in a terribly long conversation in Burton Dining Hall, knitting at a Bald Spot picnic table, or perusing the museum studies stacks on third libe. Beyond blogging, she works for the Registrar’s Office, teaches adult tap dance classes downtown, and loves submitting to student publications like babyteeth and No Fidelity. She loves Carleton for the number of opportunities it offers and the close connections she’s formed with professors, not to mention proximity to coffee from Goodbye Blue Monday and early morning walks through the neighborhoods.
