I loved this program and I had an amazing time with my host family. While it was challenging to immerse myself in the local community (which is something I hear from most students who studied abroad anywhere), my host family was extraordinarily welcoming and I gained so much knowledge and understanding while living with them. I enjoyed living in Provence even more than I expected. I had always heard that Provence was a beautiful and serene area of France, but its distinct culture and traditions were even more enchanting.

I took a former student's advice and signed up for a Charles Schwab checking account before I left - it was easy, completely free, and there were no fees for using an ATM outside of my network. Food quickly became the most difficult part of my daily budget to manage, because it was more difficult to prepare lunch meals at home than I expected and eating out was the norm among students. Many students spent a number of weekends traveling outside of France to other countries - I highly recommend staying within France and exploring the other regions. It's cheaper, a more efficient use of your time, and much more rewarding. The lengthy fall break is a better time to travel outside of France. I highly recommend the 6-credit French courses. While they are double the time commitment, the extra time is very helpful in improving French language proficiency. The Wine Studies courses are also excellent.

This program is great if you want a host family experience. The city is incredibly safe and you will feel comfortable walking around alone during all times of day. The city is incredibly walkable and there are plenty of shops and restaurants to explore. Night life is dominated by international students ( typically Americans). The program itself is catered toward Americans with classes similar to that of the University of Denver. If you are looking for international friends and a program catered toward immersion this program is not correct. There are plenty of opportunities to reach out to these kinds of organizations but you must be proactive. The school itself is two buildings located in downtown, there is no real campus. You will learn a lot and maybe even realize how disadvantaged you are being an American, if you are trying to really improve your French/ learn it. People will be very gracious and speak in English rather than help you practice in public settings like bars, restaurants, and shops.

Don't let your fears or doubts stop you from having the most amazing experience of your life. The IAU program is so supportive and they make it easy to adapt to life in the small, beautiful town of Aix in France. The teachers are amazing, as I learned so much from them and had a really wonderful time in my classes. Aix is an easy place to travel out of by train or plane to anywhere in Europe, but coming home to the small town of Aix always felt like coming home. My homestay mom was one of the kindest and most loving people I have ever met. Go Abroad!

The host-family component is a great part of this program. It is the perfect way to gain exposure to French culture, practice language skills, and make lasting connections. It also makes home-sickness easier to bare. However, since IAU is an American university with mostly American students, the impetus is on study-abroad students to form peer relationships with French students. Also, I found that it was important to take advantage of Aix's proximity to other beautiful provencal towns. Day trips were well worth it, and it added to the exposure to local culture and history. Get a student discount card for the trains, because it comes in handy when you want to travel up to Paris for the weekend.

Lots of free time. For me, not rigorous at all. Beautiful town, loved my host family. Ultimate goal was to improve french and succeeded