Students will spend over a week in Avignon, France studying the development of ancient, medieval and modern cities and learning about their role as political, economic and cultural centers. Some key themes explored will be the intersection of physical spaces and cultural values, the tension between individual and collective needs, and the often conflicting goals of different stakeholders, past, present, and future, in an urban community. We will “zoom in” on historical artifacts, monuments, and architecture to examine whose stories they tell and consider how present and future populations will continue to inscribe traces of their presence over their lifetimes. We will “zoom out” to examine how cities embrace their legacies, face their dysfunction, and strive to balance preservation with development.

The students will use the small medieval city of Avignon as one of the study models and also the larger city of Marseille. The students will meet with local entrepreneurs, city officials and urban designers and visit other urban areas and points of interest in the area to get a 360 view of the place and learn about the region and how it became what it is today.

February 17 – Au Revoir, Avignon!

It’s time to say goodbye to the town we have called home for the past 12 days. Our students have challenged themselves, expanded their knowledge and perspectives, and grown tremendously through this experience. They are returning home as more informed and engaged global citizens. While we are sad to leave the people we have met and the memories we made, we are excited to bring back home all that we have learned.

There are no student reflections to share, so instead enjoy these photos of the research projects and presentations that the students completed during their time in Avignon. Since the students did not have laptops, phones, or internet access, all the research was done through direct observation, conversations with local citizens, with our tour guides or other local resources. 

February 16 – Marseille and Aix-en-Provence

Student Author: Liv

There is definitely a bittersweet feeling to the last days of our trip to France. The end started to feel especially real today, our penultimate day in Avignon and last visit to Marseille. I’ve been thinking a lot about our long awaited return to Farmington. Not just getting phones back and being allowed to sleep past eight, but also how I’ll think and behave differently due to things I’ve learned over here. One of the essential questions of this class is “How does my identity inform my perspective and shape the way others perceive me?” This is a question I engaged with a lot during this day.

While in Marseille, we visited a stunningly beautiful church called Notre Dame de La Garde. Its main chapel was full of striking arches and pillars, vibrant colors, and intricate murals and sculptures. And yet the vastness and boldness of the room didn’t feel garish or ostentatious – it was somehow still intimate and homey. But perhaps I felt that way because I’m a Christian who’s spent a good amount of time in churches. I love this space because when I looked at all the time-consuming, expensive, meticulous work, I saw the effort that was put in out of a love and dedication to something I hold very dear. However, many people visiting did not have the same reverence as I did. I noticed people being loud and boisterous, treating it as some sort of tourist attraction. Then I realized that to them, it was. They weren’t under the same sort of obligations that I was to treat this place differently. And while I still felt really annoyed, I understood that our experiences would be different if we came from different places.

After the church, our group visited an old manor in the town of Aix-en-Provence. In the manor was an exhibition of the photography of Steve McCurry. He photographed a lot of portraits of people from around the globe. Their eyes were always the centerpiece. Laughing, smiling, worried, in pain, every emotion was captured in these photographs. I thought a lot about our faces and how while we can never really see them without the help of a mirror or photo they are what other people used to identify, categorize, understand, and interact with us. The exhibition made me think about what my face means to other people. Maybe features I have always been insecure about were what they love the most.

As we returned to Avignon on the bus, while the teachers played music scarily similar to the music my parents play, I felt so lucky to have gotten this opportunity. Through seeing and experiencing other people’s views of the world, I’m better able to understand and adjust my own.

Student Author: Ellie

Today we ventured back to Marseille and took part in a cleanup hosted by Eric from Clean my Calanques. Eric has created a wonderful organization, leaving his past job and life in order to inscribe himself in the world by cleaning trash to preserve our planet from all the harm we unintentionally cause to it. The citizens of Marseille are very prideful of their beautiful city, however, Eric expressed the embarrassment felt from all the pollution accumulating in the city.

When Eric first started cleaning Marseille, he felt great, but he soon felt overwhelmed as more trash quickly replaced it. Residents continue to unintentionally damage their city as it’s normal and seems harmless to throw cigarette butts on the street. However, this trash quickly builds up. In France, every hour 100,000 cigarettes are littered along the street, which is 12 million every day. These, mixed with tons of trash globally, have created a trash continent in the oceans that is five times bigger than France. To combat this and save Marseille, Eric and his organization host monthly organized cleanups. With these cleanups, Marseille is slowly becoming cleaner and more aware of trash and the importance of reusing and recycling.

Our class spent an hour picking up trash along a popular beach, and the artifacts we found were surprising. The large amounts of not only microplastics and cigarettes, but also glass and sharp objects, was in a way scary. I spent nearly the entire hour in one small area and emerged with a bag filled with trash. To see children and dogs playing not even 10 feet away from me was alarming as they seemed oblivious to all the trash surrounding them. We then sorted all the trash we collected and properly disposed of it. It’s so cool that all the cigarettes found would be heated and converted into energy as a way to repurpose them.

Though I’ve only been here for two weeks, I felt the guilt and embarrassment that Eric expressed after seeing all the trash. Taking part in this cleanup, truly put into perspective how much trash accumulates and affects our environment. It’s on us, as a community, to not only be aware of our impact on the environment, our home, but to preserve it and create change to allow a healthy environment for future generations. This experience forced me to question where my trash goes and what else I can do to help save our home from this threat that we as a society have created. I do feel relieved that there are people like Eric, who are working and willing to spread awareness of this issue and clean our environment. It’s really hard for one person to fight this battle alone, but as a community it is possible to create change and create a cleaner planet.

Student Author: Jenny

One of our goals today was to participate with Clean my Calanques, which was the organization we worked with to put an effort all together into helping the environment and the city of Marseille. It was an enriching experience, seeing all of us as a group working on building a better world while also having fun. It was eye-opening for everyone to see the amount of micro plastics that pollute the beach every day and the different types of objects that became trash.

We also visited “Notre Dame de La Garde”, a basilica dedicated to the Virgin Mary, which symbolizes refuge for everybody, despite their religion, culture, etc. It is the pillar of Marseille and it’s forbidden that any building in the city goes higher than the Mont of Marie. We saw people from all over the world that spoke other languages lighting prayer candles. It made us understand the power of the basilica and the representation of hope that it brings to people all over the world. Knowing that there is someone taking care of them at the top of the city.

February 15 – Rest Day

Student Author: Elliot

Today was our rest day in Avignon, so we had lots of free time to explore the city. A group of us decided to use this time to get pastries and drinks in local shops recommended to us by our tour guide, Julien. In the pastry shop, we ordered a sacristain, a pastry given to us by Julien, and used French to order our drinks. I found that speaking and understanding French has become easier through our interactions with locals, along with understanding the city. By interacting with locals, I have learned which stores are the best, how to navigate the city, key French phrases, and other parts of Avignon culture. My proximity and interaction with locals both in the program and during free time has given me a firsthand perspective of the city, and a deeper understanding of Avignon and its culture.

Later in the day while walking around the city, my group and I got turned around, and while trying to find where we were on a map, a local man came up to us and asked if we needed help. Using my French, I told him where we were trying to go and he gave us directions using a route, we had never gone before. His local knowledge and understanding of the city got us back to the hotel before the people using the route we had gone before. The man’s local knowledge improved our experience and expanded our understanding of Avignon. I have had an improved and immersive experience in Avignon as my close proximity to local knowledge has given me a deeper understanding of the city’s culture. Through local recommendations, I have found the best restaurants, cafés, stores and routes as well as learning about the city’s history, important buildings, customs, and traditions. Overall, interactions with locals have greatly shaped and improved my experience in Avignon.

Student Author: Tenley

Today the group got a freer day, which allowed me to explore much more of the city. Not only explore, though, I was able to engage with so many different things whether it was people, museums, etc. One of the questions I have been trying to answer on the basis of this engagement has been, “How does the group’s proximity to an identity impact the experience?”

Throughout the day, and really, the week I have been subject to different experiences each of which have almost revealed the culture of France. I feel as though the biggest engagement for me has been the people’s furthering communication skills, which seems essential. As a visitor, it feels necessary that I do not forget concepts of cultural competence, which we have talked about a lot in class. As someone who takes French and an outsider, I think that it is so essential that I actually engage with the people. While at first my French definitely wasn’t perfect, I consistently noticed people appreciating the effort. I don’t want to go places like some do simply expecting them to know English for me, instead I want to try and communicate. Through their culture, I want to adapt, they shouldn’t have to. Engaging with so many small businesses today was amazing, whether it be chocolate, clothing, jewelry, food, or something else, I consistently was talking to these people, understanding them, and developing an indispensable sense of friendship/friendliness. Each appreciated the effort to talk in French, and today me and my waiter even practiced French and English together, as we were both trying to learn it, an amazing thing to do and an exchange of culture that can allow us to truly interact and integrate ourselves as one of my peers said.

Through this course, I have seen that too often in cities people are divided and never look to develop any sense of community, or their community is blatantly ripped apart. Yet, we, and I, cannot let this shape the extent of our actions. Communication is the key to fostering community and if everyone can work to try to communicate with each other, we can bridge divides, and we can fully understand and not assume. Overall, today allowed me opportunities for interactions that showed my commitment to speak in French and fostering meaningful conversation. While I am an English speaker, I also am committed to learning and being open to the new, not staying in my own bubble where I cannot experience the cultures and things I was able to see/interact with today.

Student Author: Lauren

Today was a free day. We still had some other activities, but for a good part of the time I was able to hang out with my classmates and explore the city on my own, being able to support local businesses and getting out of my comfort zone to try new things. Interacting with locals has been a challenge as someone who doesn’t speak French, but watching my friends who do converse with many different people is surreal. It makes me truly appreciate Miss Porter’s, diverse learning environment, and applying what we learned into real life scenarios. While being here, I’ve learned common French phrases, solely from physically and culturally interacting with locals.

Our tour guides throughout the trip have been essential to my experience here. They have taught me a lot about the history of Avignon, but also the characteristics of locals. My classmates and I are all visitors and it’s been my goal to turn myself into a local as much as I can. I have been immersing myself into the lifestyles, culture, and norms as best I can while trying not to disrupt Avignon’s residents.

The tour guides have also shown us Avignon’s unfathomably old artifacts that make me reflect on how small I am on human history’s timeline, however, simultaneously helping me appreciate my experiences and the time I have left here. 

When the weather is nice, I’ve noticed Avignon’s running culture.  Although I hate running, it has made it a much more fun experience running along the medieval wall just like everyone else. I do know my way along the wall, however, my friends and I somehow got lost today. We made up for it by asking a local man for directions!

Overall, my proximity to Avignon’s residents, lifestyle, and history positively impacted my experience. I’ve loved interacting with locals, my tour guides, and business owners. I will never forget my time here and cherish it forever!

February 14 – Return to Marseille

Student Author: Maya

Today I went to Marseille to explore the different ways we intentionally and unintentionally impact the cities we visit or live in. I met Eric, a passionate advocate of cleaning up after yourself. I learned how the pollution is hurting the beautiful landscapes of Marseille and intentionally diminishing the pride the people feel for their city. Eric felt embarrassed to see all the trash in the Calanques (the beautiful rock formations in the Marseille coastline). While the statistics Eric shared were shocking, the part I found most intriguing was the community that has been built around the cleaning walks. Seeing all the volunteers and the excitement they all had to clean their city was something I haven’t seen very often in America.

Eric explained to us how he makes each cleaning walk entertaining and fun for everyone, especially kids. He also highlighted how he targeted the younger generation when starting, after he realized solely cleaning these areas was not enough. Instead, he had to change the habits of the people, so he talked to younger kids and explained why this was such a prominent problem in their life. Another thing that really stuck out to me was every time Eric visited a school, he apologized to the students for the trash. He understood they didn’t create the problem, but they would be the ones to take on its burden.

Eric’s organization not only benefits the community environmentally, but also socially through building a space for neighbors, friends, classmates, and family to be together. Lauren felt as though it created hope for fighting against climate change, and gave us opportunity and guidance to bring back these strategies making our home greener. I agree, Eric really laid out the major causes of carbon footprint, and how we as people don’t notice these smaller actions that pollute our communities. Maddie and Hazel found it eye-opening to see that Eric was not for these extreme changes, he understood that people will not always be perfect, he knew that people make mistakes and have no plan to push his ideologies on others. For example, he is vegan, but doesn’t expect his friends to never have meat. I enjoyed learning from others, perspectives and seeing more of Marseille. It was eye-opening to explore a new area, appreciate new cultures, and change my perspective.

Student Author: Hazel

Today, both groups visited Marseille for the second time. After visiting Eric at the rock climbing center, we were given free time outside of the Stade Orange Velodrome. Mostly known for holding the Olympique de Marseille football team’s games, the Velodrome stands tall in the epicenter of the city. It attracts visitors from within and around the city, young and old, connecting generations across one of the largest spanning cities in France. When visiting the Cité Radieuse, post-WWII public housing, we could see the stadium from the terrace.

The first time visiting Marseille, Lauren and I ran into a street football game. When we asked our guide, Oliver, about football, he replied, “Football is a religion here” highlighting how the city’s identity is shaped around the team and the sport. When walking around Marseille, I observed lots of people wearing the OM symbol. Everyone has pride for the team. In comparison, Avignon’s stadium lies outside of the walls. From my days here, I’ve seen no merch from the Avignon team or promotion of the games. I wonder if the arena being outside of the walls, with less accessibility, changes how the city’s football identity was shaped.

It is cool to see how a sports team arena shapes a city’s shared experience and patriotism. Growing up in Massachusetts, I’ve seen how sports teams connect people from all walks of life. From the Celtics, Bruins, Red Sox, and Patriots, Boston is drawn together through its teams and arenas. When I entered school in CT, I saw the other side of this spectrum as there are no national sports teams or influential stadiums nearby. Today, I began to understand how proximity to a sports identity builds a city’s experience.

Student Author: Maddie

Today I focused and reflected on the question, “How do we make choices about what we preserve and what we change?” This was an important question to answer in my opinion because there are many different lifestyles and cultures in cities, especially in Marseille. In order to preserve the unique cultures in the city we need to identify what we might need to change in order for the city to develop.

I had many different learning experiences today that have made me be able to answer this question for Marseille. This specific instance came after I visited Eric to learn about the preservation of the polluted Calanques, and our free time. I will be reflecting on how my question applies to the Le Corbusier, Cité Radieuse building. The Cité Radieuse is a sustainable, preserved building built in 1952, which houses a “vertical city.” The building supplies many flats, shops, a public school, hotel, seasonal art, galleries, offices, and a library. This area is essential to preserve, as many of its important spaces have never been renovated, and it also supplies individuals with an interconnected community. When the building was first built, the space was a dedication to all of the places the builder/owner had visited. His view was to create a building which could be seen as a “city” and give an individual everything they needed to thrive in one area. He created dark hallways to give the residents quiet areas to live, he also called those hallways “streets” in order for it to feel more connected.

February 13 – Museums of Avignon

Student Author: Charlotte

Today we ventured into multiple museums throughout Avignon intramuros. The first one my group of five set off to was the Musée Lapidaire. What originally was a hotel has now become what our group called a “storage unit” for archaeological finds dating back centuries. I had always seen museums in terms of entertainment, rating them on my own pleasure, but it was interesting to step back and answer questions like “how accessible (literature-wise, and able-body-wise) these spaces were, and who for/why were they curated.

In the second museum, Palais du Roure, I began to understand how our proximity to a particular identity can change our own perspective. It was an old mansion, consisting of portraits and fully furnished rooms. Unlike the first museum, where the pieces felt picked up and placed randomly, the Palais du Roure told the story with its natural layout. I began to ask questions like how did the owner, Baroncelli-Javon, heat this place in the 15th century with its towering ceilings? My mind created stories through each room, imagining how the old French family used to live. Even though the manor was a recreation of a way of life and architecture over 500 years ago, I felt close, somehow, to the family. Sitting at the dining room table or playing the piano in the music room, not so different from the rest of us, is a feeling unfelt in the first museum, where I felt distant from the plethora of encrypted rocks and mosaics that had been plucked from the public space or home into a cold damp church.

These museums showed separate worlds inside of Avignon and dug deeper into past lives, experienced here. One lens I thought it was missing was the lives of less fortunate people living in the city. It’s not preserved in the way the rich manors are. We have yet to learn about public housing and the role of the lower class in Avignon, which could help to further my perspective of Avignon. Tomorrow we are going to the Cité Radieuse, which is post World War II public housing in Marseille. I hope this will give the class a deeper understanding into the lens of the lower class.

Student Author: Melissa

Today the cohort visited a few museums in the city in small groups. One of the museums that our group visited, Musée Lapidaire, is a quiet space located on the busiest boulevard within the walls. The gallery used to be a medieval chapel with fabulous baroque architectural designs. Continuing its function as a story hall for antique and medieval sculptures, the museum has a substantial collection of ancient Roman, Greek, Etruscan, and Egyptian artifacts. This marvelous exhibition, undoubtedly, satisfies enthusiasts for the ancient world, however, lacks accessibility and careful curation. Labels are essential for a history museum like this. They greatly enhance the visitors’ experience by helping them to understand the sophisticated history behind each item. However, our group noticed that there weren’t any labels in other languages than French. This not only creates less enjoyable experience for foreign visitors, but also impedes the museum from gaining global attention.

While appreciating a relief on the wall, I found myself backing up into another artifact right in front of it. I realized how closely these precious art were placed together, some even without any protection. I also failed to find any clear storylines to follow in the exhibition, making it extremely difficult to understand. This lack of curation greatly undermines the visitors experience and poses danger to these fragile artifacts in being damaged a second time in the galleries. The wires on the floor and the elevated platforms almost tripped me over, doubtlessly, they impede accessibility for folks in more vulnerable states.

After the tour, I began to reflect on the question of, “what constitutes a good museum?” Is it the artifacts? Is it the story that it presents? Or, is it its ability to speak to all audiences? I would like to say it’s all of these elements and beyond. Looking at other museums in Provence and around the world: the LUMA in Arles speaks to the audience’s sensations, the Met in New York presents its collection of artifacts around the world, and the Hill-Stead Museum back home tells a story about a family that once lived there. They all present unique stories that are coherent with their cultures. For museums in the small city of Avignon it is important to present a narrative, unique to the city itself through artifacts, paintings, and even natural samples. Accessibility is also an essential element to ensure the stories are conveyed everywhere to everyone. Although I realize the difficulty in funding a small local museum like Musée Lapidaire, after talking to one of our guides, efforts are still necessary to foster accessibility and push local stories into the global vision.

Student Author: Sofia

Today we had a very eventful day throughout, including our free time. Our day started out with a trip to the local market, where we met Chef Jonathan, and had a cooking class with him. The food turned out amazing, and we learned a lot about the Provençal culture, and what makes their cuisine unique. In the afternoon, my group visited a museum of natural history, the Musée Requien. What struck me most about this museum was the preservation of the old building’s architecture, while being used for a whole new purpose now. This keeps the building’s legacy while repurposing it for a modern purpose, which is showcasing a natural history collection.

However, the most impactful part of my day came during our free time after cooking class. When we were going back to the hotel from eating macaroons, we came across a student protest marching in the streets, shouting phrases, and holding signs. We couldn’t understand what they were saying, but from the signs and a student coming up to talk to us, we realized that they were protesting budget cuts in the local university and other French universities. This was really impactful for me because I realized how French students go out of their way during their winter break to try to change policies in France’s educational system. By talking to our guide Elsa about this, I learned how the French protest and demonstrate a lot to try and change the world around them. From the demonstration, I began to understand that while change may not immediately occur, it’s important to try and get your voice heard, especially if you are passionate about the outcome, like the French students.

February 12 – Arles

Student Author: Claire

Today, the AIS France, class traveled, by train, to the nearby, small city of Arles. This unique location is home to various Roman ruins – which are highly preserved and celebrated by its tight-knit community.

Additionally, we explored the expansive stalls of the Arles public market. This cultural site includes various local produce and crafts – originating from different cultures. As we enriched ourselves with the culture of Arles, we were able to observe how our perspectives change based on our proximity to a given identity. Specifically, the public market of Arles includes cultural influences from all over the world. It was eye-opening to see the integration of various cultures in one shared space. Consequently people of different cultural backgrounds were able to experience and celebrate a different way of life.

This experience allowed me to reflect on what the social cultural aspects of community and culture are. I was then able to conclude that these aspects include the integration and celebration of various identities. As a result, communities, rich with culture, are formed. These spaces support the identities of all, and result in the exposure to different cultures.

Au Revoir (Bye)!

Student Author: Ellie

Today marks one week since departing MPS. I know that I can speak for many when I say that time has truly flown by. Both myself and my peers have learned so much since the beginning of this trip. After reflecting on this past week, especially the trip to the city of Arles today, I’ve felt particularly connected to one of the course’s essential questions that asks: How do we make choices about what we preserve and what we change?

Arles is a city rich in history close in distance to Avignon. Today, as we stood in the Roman theater and amphitheater, I was able to just look and soak everything in. It was incredible to think how hundreds of years ago individuals stood in the same place participating in fighting. That is still culturally relevant today. Additionally, our tour guide, Eirini, shared from her perspective as an archaeologist. She shared how preservation of historical sites is of utmost importance and how the arenas and their upkeep are no exception. Our other tour guide, Elsa, shared how the modern day people of Arles still hold deep familiar and cultural connections to the Roman theater. I found it fascinating how a city bustling in contemporary living can be so connected to tradition and their past as well.

Circling back and expanding on the essential question: why is it important that historical sites are preserved? From my own reflection, seeing the Roman theater today allowed me to further connect and gain a much deeper understanding of the time period and culture. A friend of mine shared with me that from her reflection, seeing the arena brought history to life. To many people in Arles, it is a place to honor culture, tradition, and family members who participated in fights hundreds of years ago. Despite the continuous change that cities face, and the innovation that drives them every day, historical sites allow us to better connect to history and culture. As I stood at the highest point of the Roman theater, whilst looking over the city of Arles, filled with modern living, I was truly able to understand the importance of this balance. Moving forward, I will continue to make connections between contemporary living and historical tradition, whilst also honoring the importance of both of them. This trip has helped me understand so many ideas more deeply, and I hope to use this understanding as I continue at MPS and beyond.

Student Author: Julia

Today we walked around the city of Arles. Specifically, we visited an old Roman colosseum. We have talked a lot on this trip about historical preservation, and how it’s connected to a city’s identity. When visiting this relic of the past, our tour guide said something along the lines of “for historical sites to be preserved they have to be used” and this really stuck with me for some reason. In the past, these coliseums were used for entertainment in the form of fighting. Gladiators would go into these arenas and fight each other or animals for the entertainment of the crowd and today, this building is still being used in a similar way. In this city, the colosseum is known for its “races” where young men jump in and out of a fenced area within the floor of the arena, trying to grab a flag tied to the horns of a bull. The performance of Man vs beast  that has been repeated for centuries. This event has become an important part of the culture of Arles, and with it, has breathed new life into this historical landmark that would otherwise be left to fall to ruins.

February 11 – Avignon, Old and New

Student Author: Wilder

After a leisurely morning of French breakfast and a quick game of Uno, my cohort embarked on a guided tour with a kind local named Julien. Julien taught us how to look for the various small Virgin Mary statues around the city, and told us about their history. I learned that, in the 14th century, when the Black Plague devastated Europe and people weren’t allowed to go to church, citizens gathered around the city’s small Mary statues to pray. I was intrigued to notice the many beautiful figures, and disappointed that I hadn’t noticed them before, so I’m grateful to Julien for helping me to shift my perspective and remember to notice the little things.

As we walked around the city to a new view of the beautiful Pont d’Avignon, I had a chance to speak with Julien one on one in French. We joked about schoolwork and the area, and it was so lovely to speak with someone I wouldn’t have had the chance to otherwise, and in French, too! I have loved speaking in French with local tour guides and shop owners as I feel I get to connect with them on a deeper level, and I also really enjoy speaking in French 🙂

During our DIY lunch period, my close friends Sophie, Liv, and I wanted to make the most of the free time, and went to some small shops before lunch. We had loads of fun looking around, and were worried about not having enough time to eat, so we decided to stop at McDonald’s because it was quick and cheap. As we ate, one of my friends was worried about not making the most of the French food, so we talked. We thought about how we should learn from that lunch and make sure to try something new every time, even if it is less convenient, and that it’s important to support the local businesses. I learned a lot today and had loads of fun speaking in French, meeting new people, and growing as a global citizen.

Student Author: Eliza

Today we had a tour around Avignon by a local named Julien. We learned a lot of intriguing history about the city like what life was like during the waves of the Black Plague. We also got to ask Julien a lot of questions. We then were given time to go get lunch and explore, and my group got empanadas.

In the afternoon, we took a tram outside the walls to a mall. This experience was valuable because it showed us how Avignon looked outside of the walls. The tram traveled through the residential neighborhoods, and we learned how the stadium and mall have to be outside the walls because the downtown streets are too narrow within the walls to have a lot of people driving through. This shows how Avignon chose to preserve the city within the walls while developing the city outside the walls to stay modern.

February 10 – Le Pont du Gard

Student Author: Carly

Today we drove to our hike at the Pont du Gard and met up with our tour guide Charlie. The hike was a total of 4.5 miles and we observed Roman aqueducts from 19 BC that transported clean drinking water for 200 years to the nearby town. We also saw an olive tree that was 1000 years old.

After our hike, we were given free time to do laundry and walk around the city. Following this, we met in our cohort groups to introduce and discuss our project that we will be working on for the remainder of the trip. The project is a presentation that discusses an essential topic in a city and how Avignon deals with it. We reflected on what we’ve noticed within Avignon in terms of transportation, housing, the environment, community, and other essential factors.

We then went on to discuss what makes a city a city, and what are various subcultures, design features, and spaces within a city, and within our own communities. We spoke about our Porter’s community and how various subcultures like teams, grades, dorms, and other groups shape the community. Then we applied these topics to city spaces.

Finally, we finished off the day visiting a Moroccan restaurant in the city, where we tried couscous, chicken, and mint tea for dessert. Reflecting on the day, I think our experience in the city and talking about some cultures and urban elements shaped my perspective, looking at Avignon and how the city is working to support and foster community and a diverse population.

Student Author: Shravya

Bonsoir! In today’s France adventure, everyone went hiking to the Pont du Gard in the morning. It was a bit of a chilly morning, so we all brought some layers. When we got off the bus, we were brought further down the path to find some ponies and camels prancing around and eating the grass in the plains.

The hike was long and hard, especially with the start of it being very steep and rocky. The walk up took 10-15 minutes and everyone pushed through. Hiking has never been a hobby I’ve done or will ever do willingly, so the incline was quite difficult for me, but I didn’t take the opportunity to head back when it was offered, as I wanted to push myself, and in the end, be rewarded with the beautiful views and getting the opportunity to see and learn about the Pont du Gard. I learned how the Pont du Gard was built in the year Christ was born and it is about 2020 years old. We got to see the aqueduct and even stand on it. After learning about the aqueduct, we hiked back to the bus with more amazing views, and opportunities to take pictures.

Heading back to the hotel, we got to experience the DIY lunches, where we were allowed to go into the old town – specifically with a minimum of three people in each group and go wherever we wanted for lunch. With €15 on each person’s school funded cards, this was a really adventurous experience for us all. I really enjoyed getting to explore in our groups and see different places and become familiar with stores and restaurants, and more importantly, Avignon itself. We all had some free time after enjoying our lunch and we had the opportunity to do some laundry, rest in the hotel, or go out with our groups to shop and visit more places. I chose to stay back and read in my quad room with the sunlight shining in through the windows.

After free time, we split into our cohorts to begin brainstorming for our final project in Avignon, with my group finalizing on housing and aiding the end of homelessness. I enjoyed getting to finalize the focus of this specific topic as I have seen so much homelessness. To end our day, each cohort went to their dinners and returned afterwards. What I want to take from today’s experience is that I should continue doing difficult things to strengthen a positive mentality. Merci et à bientôt!

Student Author: Audrey

Today we left Avignon and took a 30 minute bus ride to a small town to visit the Pont du Gard. When we arrived, there was a circus in town, and we were able to see animals foreign to me as an American. Although not a native French animal, we saw two camels in addition to some mini horses just grazing outside.

As we started our hike we saw olive trees. Our guide Charlie told me how after moving to this region, which is surrounded by farmland, she was able to realize the importance of eating what is in season. She mentioned how here, you always know what is in season, which made me think a lot about how this is not always the case in the United States.

Although the terrain was uneven, and the hike was difficult at times, it was worth it. The views were beautiful throughout the journey. We saw many different ancient Roman structures, most notably, the Pont du Gard, an aqueduct from around the year 19 BC. It was crazy to see a structure that has lasted over 2000 years. Charlie prompted us to think about how long the average building in the United States lasts and then compared it to the Pont du Gard as we concluded our nearly 5 mile hike and said goodbye to Charlie and her dog Kiki. I thought about the contrast between France and the United States. Overall, throughout this trip it has been amazing to see how the deep history of France has shaped its culture and infrastructure.

February 9 – Marseille

Student Author: Lexi

Today, the group is making our first trip to Marseille since our arrival. We started the day with breakfast in the breakfast room. This is also the room where both cohorts will gather separately at the end of each day for the group debrief. Following breakfast, we departed the hotel at 8:00 a.m. to commence our day in Marseille.

Once we arrived in Marseille the first cohort group departed, and the second cohort group, my group, continued on for a few more minutes before departing the bus. Olivier, our tour guide for the first portion of the day, started to lead us up the tour path and started the tour. Throughout the tour, Olivier explained many things relating to local housing, current events, histories, and sports relating to Marseille. Olivier allowed for questions relating to each topic he discussed, and was an engaged and knowledgeable tour guide.

After Olivier’s guided tour, we were then given the opportunity to have a DIY lunch. This consisted of choosing our own restaurant, and grouping up with friends to go and have lunch. After lunch, we began a local tour of Marseille graffiti art with Mahn Kloix. For the next few hours, the cohort walked the streets of Marseille. We visited specific murals by Mahn, and were enriched by being told the stories behind them.

Once the tour had concluded, both cohorts rejoined on the bus, and we all headed back to Avignon. When we all arrived back in Avignon, everyone headed back to the rooms for a short break before heading off to dinner. For our group, dinner tonight was at a Moroccan restaurant. Among peers, the food was deemed notable and was highly esteemed. All in all, today was a fantastic day full of new experiences and the AIS France class is looking forward to the adventures that will follow!

Student Author: Ava

Today, the group ventured outside the walls of Avignon for the first time. We traveled down south to the colorful city of Marseille. Going into the city, I had only imagined the city as a coastal yet beachy destination, although this outlook was quickly changed just moments into our travels. Arriving in Marseille, we were surrounded by bursts of color and art. Graffiti lined buildings, some even from head to toe. As we were used to being surrounded by bland buildings here in Avignon, these bursts of color surrounding us felt new.

When we arrived in the center, we met up with local street artist Mahn. Mahn proceeded to take us through the streets of Marseille and showed us some of his pieces. While at his first piece, I quickly caught on to the fact that he used symbolism in all his pieces. Every piece of art he created had meaning behind it. They all had stories to tell, some even acting as a voice and show of support for someone who cannot advocate their own voice. For example, one of the first pieces he brought us to included a small scuba diver approaching a larger sea turtle. Mahn went on to explain how nature is a large part of life, and we humans should feel a great connection to it. Another piece told a story about a young girl named Nûdem Durak. Nûdem Was a 19 year old girl who was captured because she had been creating songs against the Turkish government, and the songs were then used in protests against the government. She has been in jail for nine years now, however, she is aware of the piece Mahn created about her. In the piece, Mahn had her sitting playing a guitar, with birds strung onto her. The birds symbolized a community, who is in uplifting Nûdem out of imprisonment. I really enjoyed this piece, as I was able to configure the symbolism of the artwork. The style of Mahn’s work was also easily recognizable as you could tell his unique style made him stand out against other artists. We were shown other unique pieces of his, then stopped to sketch. The staircase we stopped at had a beautiful view. The streets below sloped down and hills with many structures filled the background. It seemed unreal. We had a DIY lunch, and proceeded with another tour, however, we traveled on public transit down to the main port of the city.

We met with our next guide, Olivier. We started at Napoleon III’s wife’s summer house. At the house, the views of the city were vastly different. I could see the Mediterranean for the first time, while also looking out to see the deep streets of the city where we just were beforehand. We walked the grounds, then continued to the landmark, nicknamed “The Door”. Aux Héros De L’Armée D’Orient Et Des Terres Lointaines, is originally designed to thank the army for their service. It was also a symbol of “inviting”. The city is very welcoming, filled with over 150 languages. No one shall be denied, as the city accepts all. Along with these inviting feelings at the monument, an octopus symbolizes a similar concept. The tentacles of the octopus symbolize the welcoming community of Marseille. The different tentacles can symbolize the many cultures and countries that are both represented and welcomed. The day finished and we were on our way back. While traveling back I came to realize how much art shaped the city. It both brought people together, while also helped express ideas. Artwork helped express movements within the country, but also internationally. Art brings the welcoming city together, showcasing all cultures from all over. This city really made me think deeply, as it helped change my perspective. I loved our day out in Marseille, and can’t wait for more! Bonne Nuit!

Student Author: Lila

Today we traveled outside the walls of Avignon to Marseille. After an hour-long bus ride, we arrived in Marseille. As we were driving into the city, we all were able to get a sense of the people and the architecture. Once we were off the bus, we split into our two separate cohorts. My cohort started by taking a tour around the city to look at street art. Our tour guide, Mahn, is a street artist, who creates pieces to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves. Some of the most memorable pieces included one of a man advocating for immigrants in the city, and one of a large turtle next to a small man, which represents how humans can see the world from a small perspective, and nature is all around. Looking at all this street art helped us to understand how people can imprint themselves on the world around them, and the impact they can have if they advocate for what they believe in.

During the tour, we were given time to stop and sketch a stairwell which looked over a large part of the city. This gave us the opportunity to interpret the city and the art around us in our own ways. During the second half of the day our group met up with the second tour guide, Olivier, who took us on a walk along the shore. Some of the most memorable parts from this walk were the views of the old part, which is where the city of Marseille originated, and where we learned about the importance mothers have in this culture and society, and this was clear through many of the statues, seen along the walk. When the tours were over, we met up with the other cohort for the hour long bus ride to Avignon. For dinner tonight the two cohorts will be splitting up again and going to different restaurants. We are all looking forward to our hike and visit to the Pont Du Gard tomorrow! Au Revoir!

February 8 – Sketching Avignon

Student Author: Dilara

Bonjour mes amies à Farmington! We spent our third day in Avignon immersing ourselves in the history of the city. Our day started with a sketching workshop in the Petit Palais Museum courtyard. The courtyard was so pretty and peaceful, and we were able to appreciate the architecture and our surroundings to the fullest by sketching what we saw. The museum contained a wide range of religious paintings through which we could see the extent of the influence of the papacy in Avignon.

Continuing the same theme, we then visited the Palais de Papes which was the home of the seven popes who resided in Avignon during the 13th and 14th century. Throughout our tour of the Palais de Papes, we were able to see what we learned in the history focused section in real life. The architecture illustrated how each Pope influenced the landscape of Avignon and how the general changes in French culture and society influenced the Palais through the various additions and destructions to the building through its history. Our activities helped us better understand the questions guiding our course, especially exploring how we inscribe ourselves on the world around us through the exploration of the historical sites.

Au revoir, à bientôt!

Student Author: Sophie

Bonjour! Today was filled with many wonderful activities. After breakfast we got ready to face the rain and head to our first activity at an art museum. I was able to meet Charlie, an artist at the museum, who guided us through sketching the beautiful architecture around us. As an artist myself, I enjoyed drawing and seeing the different perspectives/styles of drawing from other members in my group such as my lovely friend Wilder’s drawing of our peers. I also got some tips from Charlie about her perspective on drawing. She advised me and many others to draw what is in front of you and not worry about the lines and specific details. I also was able to walk around the museum and look at many beautiful sculptures, statues and paintings. Overall, while experiencing new things through our lens I need many different perspectives of others. Au revoir!

February 7 – Barriers Broken and Bridges (sort of) Crossed

Student Author: Dechen

Today was filled with engaging activities that helped to immerse us into the local spaces of Avignon. The day started with orientation activities outside the Le Pili restaurant. One of the activities involved using two points on the ground as two ends of a spectrum that represented our level of comfort in different given situations. It was interesting to see whether where people chose to stand was bunched up or had more variation. When people who stood in a different space on the spectrum from myself provided explanations, I found myself agreeing a lot. This was a valuable exercise that emphasized the diverse perspectives and experiences we may have while on this trip.

Later we made the trip to the Pont d’Avignon, where we were able to absorb the fascinating history and structure of the famous unfinished bridge. Looking back at the city from the edge of the bridge both helped us see the city from a new perspective and also enjoy a peaceful, breezy moment in our trip. At the end of the day, we enjoyed a meal at Le Bistro’Nomic  where I noticed a habit of mine when interacting with the local French people. I spoke to them in English out of subconscious fear that I might say something wrong. This fear is pretty irrational as I am only referring to the use of “thank you” instead of merci or “hi” instead of bonjour which can only be messed up so much. In contrast to this experience, most of my peers, namely Charlotte and Hazel, have been using those terms in French with great enthusiasm. A lot of the time this is met with welcoming and equally enthusiastic responses from the locals. It’s quite curious that I subconsciously am self-conscious in this way when entering new communities. I hope to make the most of my trip having the same small but valuable interactions with the locals as my peers, and give them my best bonjours. So far, even with just one full day spent here, I have been able to experience so many new things or reflect on concepts that have further shaped my perspective as a global citizen.

Student Author: Caitin

Today one of the highlights was touring the Pont d’Avignon which was built during the 12th century. Although, we learned this bridge underwent hundreds of years of development. For example, the bridge was far from complete in the 14th century. The popes that resided in Avignon funded the bridge in order for it to be built faster. We learned the bridge shaped the city as it not only acted during the Catalan war as protection but also for transportation. When walking across the bridge I could see how it has been through centuries of growth. The bridge itself was above a river and stretched out far. An interesting fact we learned was that it was rebuilt from a flooding incident. This restoration shows the significance of the bridge and its importance to the city. This shifted my perspective because its resilience shows the strength of the city and how it’s preserved for centuries.

Student Author: Cara

Today our main activity was exploring Avignon. We learned about the Pont d’Avignon and how the history behind it has shaped the city today. The bridge was built over multiple centuries and had 22 arches. Although the original bridge had been destroyed, it was rebuilt multiple times. This shows the significance the bridge had on the people of Avignon due to it being the main way of transportation in the medieval period. This experience shifted my perspective as it showed how historical monuments can shape a city and its people.

February 6 – Arrival in Avignon

After a long and smooth journey, we have safely arrived in the beautiful city of Avignon. The excitement was palpable as we stepped off our bus, even as travel fatigue set in. Despite the exhaustion, the students have shown incredible enthusiasm and engagement, eager to make the most of this adventure.

Our first day was all about settling in and getting acquainted with our surroundings. We met the local leaders who will be working with our group, and then we set out to explore the city. In groups, students explored Avignon on a silent walk of discovery, taking in its beauty and history. After a short rest at the hotel, they ventured out again to prepare a scavenger hunt for tomorrow’s activities. It was a fun and interactive way to begin connecting with the daily rhythm of Avignon.

We ended our evening with a delicious dinner at a contemporary Southern French restaurant, where everyone got to experience regional flavors before heading to bed, exhausted but fulfilled.

Future updates will include reflections from the students themselves, sharing their experiences in their own words. Stay tuned!