Shaved Ice...Flamenco Concert..and More!

            My favorite thing about Aix-en-Provence is that there is a little old Italian man selling shaved ice every single day on Cours Mirabeau. He has a million flavors and what I like about him is that he always lets you know what tastes good and what doesn't. Every single day when we have free time, or temps libre, we run over to the shaved ice corner to get some! I always end up getting cherry and every day he asks me if I want to try it with something else. The first time he said "Un peu citron?" which means "A bit of lemon?" And today he asked me "Un peu cotton candy?" which means "A bit of cotton candy?" I'm always confident that he will give me the best tasting shaved ice because he seems to know what works and what doesn't. I completely trust him when it comes to shaved ice and I eat whatever he suggests. I think he's gotten used to my friends and I frantically running over to him and asking him for shaved ice.
            Two nights ago, we went to a concert in a garden in Aix to see the "Trio Fernandes." They are a flamenco musical group that is absolutely sensational! We were sitting on blankets in the most beautiful and enchanting garden ever created. The musical was phenomenal to say the least. I think I still have one of the songs stuck in my head "Volando voy, volando vengo, por el camino, yo me entretengo." The flamenco dancing was amazing as well. The ladies moved so sensually and still kept it elegant and conservative.
             Then we went to Arsles yesterday for the photography festival. It was very fun and here are some pictures of the trip!

In front of the town center in Arsles

Roman Ruins in Arsles

First Days in Aix-en-Provence 2012 VIDEO!

Somes photos from our trip to Marseille!

The First Days in Aix!

        Bonjour tout le monde! I arrived in Aix-en-Provence on Tuesday, and I think I'm already in love with this town. The airplane ride wasn't pleasant at all, and I even got sick along the way. But besides that, the first two days have been the most thrilling and exciting days of my summer. When we got back from the airport, we were greeted with fresh croissants, fromage, beurre, etc. The food was absolutely amazing and way better than airplane food. After that, we had a group orientation where we went over the trip rules and such. We were given the keys to our new apartments and before I got here, I thought they were going to be small. I mean, really small. But, to my surprise, my apartment had TWO floors with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Oh, and we also have four balconies. It's pretty spectacular, to say the least.

        We had our first dinner at a small restaurant near Cours Mirabeau which is the "main street" in Aix. The food was delicious and I ate salmon lasagna. For dessert, we had tiramisu and it was TO DIE FOR. We took a walking tour before dinner and Aix gives out a sort of nostalgic feeling. You see the old buildings in such a beautiful way that you think to yourself if modernization is actually a  good thing. The outdoor markets and the flower shops are gorgeous. I even stopped by one and said "Les fleurs sont belles!" The owner smiled and said "Merci beaucoup!!" Honestly, the people here are so courteous and willing to help anyone if they're lost, or have a question. 

          Yesterday was the Fourth of July, and we ate pizza and watched "Date Night." We also took our placement tests yesterday which were not difficult at all. We had an oral part and a written part. Our electives took place today and mine is "French Conversation!" It was really fun and we made little sketches to present in French. It was a rewarding experience. 

           Now let's talk about the BEST parts of the first few days. I loved eating "shaved ice" at a local stand on Cours Mirabeau. It is the most amazing shaved ice, I've had in my entire life. Also, there was a man playing the accordion on Cours Mirabeau and the music was just simply beautiful. You will see it in the video! 

         

First video!

Here's the first video that I uploaded on the Abbey Road youtube channel.
Check it out!

Looking forward to Aix-en-Provence!

                 My trip to Aix-en-Provence is less than a month away and I can already envision myself completely immersed in French culture and language. The idea of going to France with a group of people my age for a whole month seems more than surreal. There are endless reasons as to why I chose an Abbey Road summer program over any other program. Abbey Road doesn't only want you to sight see and explore France. They want you to actually practice speaking French with natives while also learning the fine points of French grammar in school. The main reason I signed up for this summer program is to completely immerse myself into a new environment and experience living life just like a French teen would!
                 I’m thrilled to meet the people attending this trip with me because I am 100% positive that these people will remain my friends forever. This trip will undoubtedly create an everlasting bond with my peers. I’m also looking forward to exploring the streets of Aix-en-Provence and becoming familiar with the different stores and restaurants there. I want to look for little idiosyncrasies that this town has. France is worldly renowned for having extravagant and exquisite cuisine; so the food is something that I am eager to try! I’m sure that French food is different than American food but that’s all part of the experience. I see myself ordering des escargots, ratatouille, or even crème brûlée for dessert! Living in a different country for a month is perfect for people who are open-minded and willing to try new things that are different than what they’re normally used to.

                  Personally, I think I’m more enthusiastic about our French classes in the morning than any else. I’m excited to refine my studies of French with the help of experienced professors who are passionate about teaching French. The tri-weekly elective seems delightful as well because we get to take a break from grammar and do something we enjoy! I will be taking the French Conversation elective which is more than perfect for me because my main goal for this trip is to become comfortable speaking French.

                  I think I’m going to spend most of this trip documenting everything so that I’ll never forget my adventures in Aix-en-Provence. I will most likely be remembered as “the girl who filmed everything” or “the girl who stayed up till midnight writing about her day.” My friends in New York also want me to send them postcards from France and I promised them I would but only if they would let me write the postcard in French. Most of my friends agreed to this deal and assured me that they would treasure it forever.
                   To conclude, I’m hoping that this will be the best summer of my life. I hope it’s filled with countless memories that will always remain in my heart. I’ll try new things, admire stunning views, eat authentic French food and create amazing friendships. This will be the trip of a lifetime and the epitome of my high school experience. Stay tuned for photos, videos, and a lot of writing! Here you'll discover my adventure in Aix-en-Provence.