Wow! Time has flown by. I’ve been in Europe now for over a month. It’s crazy to look at my pictures and realize how much I’ve done in such a short time. While traveling on the weekends is always wonderful, I have also loved getting to learn about Aix and the quirks that go with it.

I’m living in an apartment with four other girls and French conversation is something you will not find common in the house. So when I found out that we were going to get to have dinner with French families, I was very excited. I recently went to dinner “Chez Christine” with my apartment roommates and it was quite the experience. I impressed myself with my French speaking skills that I didn’t even know I had, and we enjoyed a home cooked meal for the first time since being here. Christine’s home was a little apartment on the east side of town and absolutely perfect for one. She had a kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom, all decorated to perfection with European flair. One thing I noticed right away was how incredibly tiny her television was, something that would never fly in America. Of course the TV is an afterthought since there is no time for Netflix binges. The meal started off with a vegetable potato puree soup served with wine of course, followed by a pork apricot dish, cheesy fennel, and roasted endives. The “vegetable” of choice was not something I was used to, but it was cool to get to try a more traditional French meal. Conversation topics at dinner ranged from her previous host students, to IAU life, to future travel plans, and all in French. It was nice to realize that my French isn’t as weak as I thought it was, and I appreciated being able to practice with someone who consciously spoke slowly and had lots of fun stories to share.

One thing that still cracks me up is the number of times we were told not to smile at men. How insane does that sound? From day one of orientation we were told, “If you smile at men it means that you are interested and they will come up to you and start harassing you.” So never make eye contact and remain emotionless when in public. We were also repeatedly told to dress modestly because any sight of skin means you’re ready for men to come up to you. It’s definitely strange to live in a place where male/female dynamics are so drastically different than in the States, but it’s unfortunately something that I’ve accepted as part of living here. The positive outweigh the negatives of course, but being cautious and aware is something I’m more focused on.

I found a boulangerie (bakery) not too far from campus that has the absolute best baguettes. Best part? It’s only 75 cents for a piece of heaven. They warm it up for you so the inside is soft and biting into it you won’t break a tooth like some of these other places I’ve tried. I find myself there more often than I should. One day after picking up a baguette I was walking through town running errands, and I heard music coming from the left. I look over and there sat on a man playing classic French songs on an accordion. I was wearing a scarf, eating a baguette, and listening to an accordion. It was then more than ever that I truly realized I’m in France.

Going out here is of course an interesting experience since nightlife is a lot different than what I’m used to, but it’s fun nonetheless. One night we found ourselves at a little bar called L’Escat where they have live bands each night. The American influence is definitely present. For instance, listening to live music is always a fun way to spend a night, but I was chuckling when I heard the song they were playing. It was “The Joker” by Steve Miller Band, and every time the singer said Joker it was done so with an incredibly thick French accent. We couldn’t help but laugh.

Another taste of American influence in Aix can be seen in the movie theatres. They are essentially American movies dubbed over in French and have different titles. My favorite ones were the advertisements for Zac Efron’s “Dirty Grandpa” displayed throughout town, but the French translation of that was “Dirty Papy.” Classic.

My grocery trips have thankfully not been too difficult. I found those middle school days of food vocab has come in handy, and I’ve figured out what food works and what doesn’t. The closest thing France has to Target is called Monoprix, and it is truly a lifesaver. You can get just about anything there, and they have a great food selection. Navigating in the beginning though was difficult as they don’t have exactly the same products and their meats can be questionable if you aren’t positive what you’re looking for. They do have different cereals that are fun to look through, and my favorites have been Frosties and Miel Pops, aka Frosted Flakes and Corn Pops. Picking out fruits and vegetables is so wonderful though because they are all so cheap, but so insanely perfect. Every bit in pretty much any produce item is incredible and fresh.

The little things that make up my day are going to be what makes this place feel like home. After a month I seem to have gotten into a routine, even if that routine means being elsewhere every weekend, but having familiarity in each day has made the transition nearly complete. I love getting turned around though on my walks sometimes and finding new nooks of the city that have their own charm. Every day is definitely an adventure, and I’m always looking forward to finding out what’s in store.