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.

May 3, 2026

Student Author: Leah

Today was an exciting and anticipated day for the whole class, especially me because on an earlier project I did a deep dive on the Pont du Gard aqueduct, which we visited! Up on the aqueduct, I saw things from a completely different angle and was able to slow down, breathe, and enjoy the moment. Previously, we have discussed contrasts in differences between French and American culture, highlighting how we perceive the passage of time. The French have a slow and leisurely approach to their daily routines, while Americans tend to be much more fast-paced, especially in urban life. It is rare to see someone walking around with a to-go coffee cup or a drive-through; unlike America, French culture appreciates downtime, sitting and soaking up a moment rather than rushing through it.

This is very unlike what I am used to and when I first arrived, it annoyed me a little. Meals droned on as waiters didn’t bring the check and I was constantly stuck behind slow walkers. My experiences today changed how I approached this shift.

We started our day by attending a cooking class at an incredible restaurant in the area. Preparing the food was a slow task. We chopped each vegetable carefully and we made mayonnaise, which required ages of whisking. Next, we shadowed their chef as he prepared us his spin on a classic grilled cheese. He was very passionate and precise with every ingredient he added, and you could tell he cared deeply if we enjoyed the food. This encouraged me to stop and take things in, noticing all the seemingly small things I would have missed in a fast-paced lifestyle.

This brought me a new appreciation for how detailed and thoughtful the chefs are. I noticed the vegetables and cheese were fresh and locally sourced in Provence. I also noticed the drinking glasses were decorated with the symbolic animal of Avignon. When we sat down to eat the food we had prepared ourselves, I felt proud, and noticed that the process of preparing these dishes was slow, yet deeply rewarding.

During the hike through the town of Saint Bonnet to the Pont du Gard, I continued practicing slowing down and noticing. It was a long and steep walk before we even got a glimpse of the aqueduct, but I stayed in the moment and enjoyed the time with my friends. I talked with our guide and learned things I would never know if I rushed through the hike. He told me that denim was actually founded in the very town where the aqueduct ended (Denim → de Nîmes) and taught us the history leading up to the Levi’s jeans we see today.

When we arrived at the Pont du Gard, I was able to fully take in and appreciate the stunning view of the historic aqueduct and the Rhone River. I looked and listened closely, living in the moment. I noticed the cement blocks running up the aqueduct and learned that it was for climbing up to make restorations. We closed out our hike by putting our feet in the Rhone River and staring up at the ancient marvel of engineering right next to us. I slowed down and appreciated the hike, not concerned with anything but the moment I was in. The hike was long but rewarding, and by earning the view and enjoying the journey, I was able to take it all in.

We ended our day by eating at Le Berçail, a restaurant on an island just outside the walls of Avignon. We had a stunning view of the Rhone River and Pont d’Avignon. As we discussed previously with our program leaders, a part of French dining culture is that it is slow-paced. You are supposed to sit and enjoy your meal and your company, with lots of time between each course. It is actually seen as “bad” service if they bring you the check without asking, because it might rush your meal. I deeply enjoy this slow way of dining because it truly allows you to take in your surroundings and connect with the people around you.

Our room in the restaurant was lively, filled with laughter as people joked and played card games. We were all able to discuss and debrief our days by talking and connecting with one another through food. I was also able to take in the restaurant’s atmosphere, as we were drawn to an incredibly beautiful “tree” we saw. After marveling over it for a couple of minutes, we asked and learned that it is an Agave flower of a cactus that only sprouts between 15–50 years. I would have never learned and observed this tree if it wasn’t for the practice of slowing down, connecting, and noticing.

Overall, through reflecting on my very full day, I learned a lot about French and American culture. In about a week when I return to Connecticut, I hope to adapt what I learned about slowing down and appreciating the little things. I think that this practice makes me more grateful for the incredible opportunity of this trip and understanding of my surroundings. I hope that all others are inspired to do the same and slow down and take a minute to be mindful. I am very excited to carry what I learned today into tomorrow and the rest of my life.

Student Author: Bella

Today we started off the day with a more chill wake up of 8:30 a.m. But by 9:15 a.m. we were on the move, heading to our first activity of the day: cooking class! 😁 When we arrived at the restaurant, my cohort went with Alex, our group leader, to discuss the impact of cities and compare them to Porter’s.

We had an invigorating conversation, naming spaces at our own school that reflected physical spaces in Avignon. One example was our dining hall and city squares/centers. Both are places of meeting and gathering where everyone regardless of economic class (in Porter’s case grade) or identification can talk. Another interesting term brought up was “sidewalk ballet.” Each city may look like chaos from the outside, take New York City for example, but really it’s the normal unspoken bustle of locals. Everywhere has its own unspoken “choreographed” ballet that people know and follow, even Porter’s! Once our conversation came to a natural pause, my team walked back to the cafe and prepped to begin cooking (wash hands, put up hair, tied aprons and gloved up).

This was serious business. The chef began by showing us how to put together Croque Monsieur, a French dish much like grilled cheese but with ham, extra cheese, and béchamel. It was so delicious and I highly recommend. Next, my team moved outside the kitchen where we got started on a dip called tapenade. If you have ever had Sabra hummus with olive tapenade, this was just the top.

We also whipped and made our own mayo by hand. One thing me and my team noticed was that the people of France dip bread and fresh veggies in mayo. This was intriguing, but surprisingly good. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and while I might not be doing that when I return, I’m happy I gave it a chance. Shout out to Madame Archer, because cooking made us all think of you, and our ordering + conversation French skills are top notch.

After our well-earned lunch we packed our bags, filled our water bottles, and got ready to face the 5k hike in front of us. We met back up with Charlie, who I’m sure you remember from day 3, and got walking! The hike was tough, but we got through and even got to hear about the ancient Roman aqueducts and water supply system that were over 50 km long and were slanted one inch every yard. This water system brought much prosperity to the town of Nîmes, and allowed them to flourish greatly during the 9th to 13th centuries. In fact, the term denim originated from this town, hence the name “deNIM”.

Much like how Nîmes became prosperous, many cities followed the same trend, like Hartford for example, which we talked about in class. After a long day of cooking and hiking, we took a ride across to the Rhone River to play some mini-golf, where I won of course, and finally had a delicious dinner + much needed debrief of the night.

May 2, 2026

Student Author: Victoria

Today we had a more relaxed day filled with reflection on everything we’ve been up to so far. With our jam-packed daily itineraries, this was an opportunity to step back and make noticings on things we have seen and learned so far through the various activities we’ve participated in.

Thus far, I have been joining members of the Porter’s team and our guide Alex on daily morning runs, which have now become a part of my routine here and have played a significant role in my ability to adjust to this new environment. Though it is a quick 30 minutes, it is an opportunity to reflect as I take in the beautiful scenery of Avignon’s walls surrounding me. At first the silence felt loud and new to me, because I am unfamiliar with exercising without music. However, each day the silence is swept further away and filled with all of the sounds around me that I otherwise wouldn’t have noticed—birds, bike bells, voices, rocks beneath my feet—and they seem to make the run itself almost more comforting, because there really is so much around us beyond our phones.

Our reflection activity with our cohorts this morning following the run was another reminder of how much more attentive we have been able to be without our phones. We started this activity off with writing quick noticings about everything we have done up to this point. After that we were asked to connect two comments from two different activities together, noticing how two drastically different experiences provoked some similarity in our minds. I drew similarities between our silent walk around Avignon and our Urban Sketching activity with Charlie. I found that both of these activities allowed us to observe and notice details while also sitting with the quietness that can be uncomfortable, both bringing me a comfort similar to the morning runs. All of the experiences together have allowed me to observe the city and notice different details that I wouldn’t have if I had access to my phone.

I believe that at home our phones become an outlet for us to fill silence with, as it is hard to not constantly be chasing for an input. However, this trip is a wonderful example of the fact that we can remain busy without our phones, but still calm and observant, as opposed to anxious and ungrounded. Each day that I spend here the silence feels quieter and gets filled by the voices of those teaching me about their homes or my friends and I discussing our days, noticings, (sometimes a heated card game is a good one too…). To cut to the chase, maybe not having a phone isn’t so bad after all, and in fact the outside world is a lot less quiet than you think once you turn the distractions off.

Student Author: Savannah

We started off with a very chill morning, beginning by forming groups and brainstorming ideas for our Urban Planning Project with Atlas. It was a moment to reflect on the previous days after lots of running around to tours and activities, which I am sure you’ve heard all about.

Then the whole group walked to Avignon’s market. In smaller groups, we explored the shops inside, taking note of how many people not only purchased food there, but actually sat down to eat inside. From where I come from, markets are solely for buying fresh food, but here it appeared to be a social hub, a way for the locals to gather and interact with the community. My group’s proximity to these people led to some memorable interactions, specifically with the shopkeepers. We needed to ask them about their best-selling items, but since we had a hard time speaking French, one vendor couldn’t understand us. We bonded with another vendor about it, connecting with him through shared laughter. Another seller even spoke to us in English, making us laugh with his jokes about the meats he sold and even serenading our friend, Bella, with a birthday song.

These experiences shape how I view the market. It’s a way to enjoy and support local food, AND people. Knowing that it was Saturday, I had to keep in mind that the demographic consisted of people beyond the usual. Tourists, like us, and surrounding residents outside of the walls with access to transportation are likely not there as much. It is the regular locals that the market has the biggest sociocultural impact on, which is why it’s important their voices are heard when it comes to making decisions about the market.

In the afternoon we were given a choice about our activities, and my team was certainly challenged at our Pilates class. For dinner we split into our cohorts and got to explore Avignon’s very own version of fast food. It came cold, in a jar, and when you were ready to eat, the cashier warmed it up. I have never eaten in this way before, and I was skeptical at first, but I can honestly say it broadened my cultural horizons. Looking around the restaurant I could see a lot of families there for a quick, but quality meal. Unlike the market, this time I was looking from the outside perspective, watching bonds grow between locals so casually. It made my experience hit closer to home, as I was reminded of my typical lifestyle. We ended the night with our daily debrief as a cohort, highlighting our joys and challenges of the day.

May 1, 2026

Student Author: Lucie

Today, we took a day trip to the beautiful city of Marseille. The bus ride to the city from Avignon was about an hour. On the bus, there was music being played and the sound of laughter all in the air.

Once we arrived in Marseille, the group as a whole got split into the two cohorts. My group started off the day by taking a two-hour tour around the port and city to learn all about the culture and history of Marseille. One thing that really stuck out was the street art all over the city that make the city the what it is.

For lunch, we had our first “DIY” lunch, so we could pick where we wanted to eat and with whom. Once we were done with lunch, my group and I got to swap tours with the other group. In this tour, we really got to dive deeper into what Marseille’s culture really looks like. Every city has something that truly makes it special, and Marseille’s is definitely street art. Everywhere that we walked there was art, and it truly made the city feel alive. Marseille is truly such an amazing place, and I cannot wait to see and do all that we are going to in all the time we have left!

Student Author: Gabbi

Today we had a little bit of a switch-up from the past three days in Avignon, and we traveled to Marseille! Before our one-hour bus ride, me and four others went on a morning run around the walls of Avignon. Going on the runs in the mornings has allowed me to see the city from a new perspective by exploring what is on the outside. I really enjoy observing all of the people on the way to work in and around the city. After the run, I ate breakfast and got ready for the day in the hotel with my roommates.

Shortly after, we started our journey to Marseille. The vibes were very high with lots of chatter, taking pictures, playing card games, and listening to music on the speaker. Being off of our phones has become an afterthought for most of us by day 4, and I have found it a lot easier to stay engaged in the tours and build friendships.

Once we arrived, my cohort’s first activity in Marseille was a walk around the city with an impressive paid graffiti artist, Mahn Kloix. Mahn explained to us how graffiti in Marseille is illegal, yet almost every building at eye level had graffiti. Many people climb onto the roofs at night to create their artwork to avoid getting caught. The difference between Mahn’s work and the other artists’ work is that Mahn gets permission and is paid. The similarity: their intention is the same. To get a message across to the people.

Mahn showed us three of his murals that all had super personal and fascinating stories. When thinking about how we inscribe ourselves on the world and their impacts, it was clear to me that Mahn was trying to uplift marginalized groups or reverse the narrative as perceived by others. I asked Mahn how his work had been received, and he said that people had found it both comforting and intimidating. Overall, the city strongly embraces the graffiti, either by making their own or interpreting what is already there. I loved listening to Mahn talk so passionately about his artwork to make others’ voices heard.

After our morning tour, me and my friends grabbed lunch at a beautiful restaurant overlooking the port. It was really fun to recap our mornings and take in the ocean breeze. Our second tour was with a lovely man named Olivier. He is an urban planner and, similarly to Mahn, his passion for his work was really inspiring to see. He shared wonderful stories detailing the history of Marseille, which he said, “If you got me a coffee, I could sit here and talk about this for 2 hours.” The port was gorgeous as well as the art, and the city is so busy and diverse compared to Avignon.

On the bus ride home back to the hotel, I was able to realize from this experience today on the tours how important pride of place truly is to everyone. Mahn and Olivier displayed so much passion for their work which rubbed off good vibes and high engagement throughout the whole day. This first experience in Marseille’s beautiful and lively city is one that I will never forget, and it opened my eyes to two very creative and important perspectives. Olivier mentioned that Marseille has many scars from the past, and through the way he and Mahn inscribe themselves on the city through their knowledge and talent, they are showing to us how past history can be embraced and healed over time.

April 30, 2026

Student Author: Lillian

It has been an eventful and intriguing day of exploration. The Peppeirini cohort started their day off strong with the tour of the Palais des Papes. Coming to Avignon, this is the site I had built up the most anticipation for. This is due to the fact that I researched it meticulously for my artifact summative. Walking into that palace, I knew the facts; I was ready to experience the enormous medieval palace.

The palace was both large in size and impact. The city once revolved and developed around when the Papacy was moved from Rome to Avignon due to unstable conditions. With this change, Avignon became a booming economic city and the large-scale Gothic style palace was constructed.

During that time period, the palace was essential and acted as the center of the city. Some would think that fact would change once the Papacy returned to Rome—but being in the city today showed me that wasn’t true. People gravitate to the center around the palace as it is very impressive and fascinating to gaze at while sipping a coffee. It also hosts tour groups to educate tourists and travelers like ourselves.

With our wonderful tour guide Françoise, we immersed ourselves and discovered what it was like to live in the palace during the Papacy. This experience really opened my eyes on how impactful learning and researching an artifact can be both on me as a student and city locals. Coming in having background information allowed me as a learner to ask deeper questions and form a connection of interest with my guide. Françoise deeply appreciated my genuine curiosity about the Pope’s Palace—a site she cares so deeply about! She even expressed how surprised she was with the group’s knowledge and engagement.

This made me feel rewarded as a global citizen and traveler. Next, the group discovered a hidden gem: a local flea market! Only a few “rues” off of the main plaza, this market runs Tuesdays and Thursdays by local vendors. Experiencing this intimate cultural event meant traveling beyond the traditional tourist experience.

We then had a sketching class with a local artist from Avignon, Charlie. She taught us about dimension and urban sketching. It allowed me to see the city from a different perspective. I was able to admire the medieval architecture while also creating a physical object to remember my time here, that is not just a photograph.

One of the highlights of my day was trying escargots with my dinner cohort. This was a unique French experience that expanded both our mindsets and taste buds. It was both slimy and delicious! This fun moment in our group brought us together and let us experience a cool and unique French dish most people are scared to try.

This day was jam-packed with fun and exciting events that are making this trip impactful and very memorable.

Student Author: Lucy

Today, my cohort first went to an urban sketching workshop with a local artist named Charlie. She provided us with sketchpads, and we were then instructed to either draw the roofline of a side street or an arch attached to the Palais des Papes. I decided to draw the arch. As I sketched it, I began to notice architectural details that I don’t think I would have seen if I had just walked by it. For example, certain windows in the Palais des Papes are different sizes.

Based on my prior knowledge of the building, I came to the conclusion that the lack of consistent construction could most likely be attributed to modifications made to the building as it served different purposes throughout history. For example, government officials, who lived in the palace directly after the Papacy officially left Avignon, made efforts to eliminate some of the building’s Medieval Gothic qualities. This decision was made because it was extremely expensive to maintain the intricate architecture, and government officials felt that they didn’t need to live in that level of luxury.

I noticed even more alterations made to the Palais des Papes when my cohort went inside for a guided tour this afternoon. We were shown frescoes and paintings that had been severely damaged by the soldiers who used the palace as barracks from midway through the French Revolution to the early 20th century. Furthermore, there are clear outlines of where “ceilings” were placed in rooms that once were soldiers’ bedrooms. That is, one room on one level could have been broken up into four floors since the ceilings in the palace are so high.

Engaging with the Palace today provided me with a real-world example of how a structure can be repurposed, and how those repurposings can potentially cause damage. However, this damage only applies to the building itself, and not to the preservation of its history.

I also really enjoyed the meals we had today! Both meals my cohort had were in the same plaza as Les Halles Market — a Provençal market full of local food vendors.

April 29, 2026

Student Author: Ava

Last night was our first night sleeping in the hotel so today felt like our first official full day. We spent the morning bonding with our cohorts by answering rapid-fire questions we had for each other. We then gathered as a whole group to discuss assumptions we had about Avignon prior to our arrival. Many of us were expecting French people to be “mean” based on stereotypes we have learned in the past. We are all surprised because that is not the case and everyone is so friendly.

I was also surprised to learn that tipping is not an option at many restaurants and tax is included in the prices. Another thing we noticed is the prominence of smoking in Avignon. We engaged in a discussion about how people used smoking as a way to cope after the world wars and it then became normalized and integrated into the culture. Even though smoking fizzled out in the United States, in other countries like France, the habit was passed on to other generations.

After lunch, we walked to the Rhône river and learned about the history of Pont d’Avignon, which is the bridge that lies over the river. The bridge no longer connects to the other side because the current was too strong and destroyed 18 of the bridge’s arches, leaving only 4 remaining.

Later in the afternoon, we split into small groups and arranged a scavenger hunt for another group. We used the hints we received from another group to complete the scavenger hunt given to us. This activity was so fun because as we walked around I noticed all of the beauty and elegance Avignon has to offer. I love everything about this place from the cobblestone roads to the window shutters on every building. The weather has been so nice and there are so many people outside making the people-watching so good.

I love watching the locals interact with one another and get an idea of what life looks like in Avignon. I love it here already and I am excited to explore the city further and immerse myself in the culture.

Student Author: Harper

Today is Wednesday, and it is our second day in France. We did a lot today: ate pizza & ice cream (sprinkles offered by Kate), played a reverse scavenger hunt around the city, and went shopping in the markets. But out of all the activities, my favorite was visiting the river and crossing the Rhône —or more, half-crossing— the bridge no longer carries its full 22 arches across the entire area like it used to.

Honestly, I knew this would be my favorite because of the history. If it was anything like the other structures that were older than America itself, my first thoughts were academic-based: “When was the structure toppled first?” “Who ordered for the city’s protection as a historical monument?”

But on the way over, we were scampering away from the walls for the first time since we landed, and Elsa, our tour guide from the city, turns to us…

“Does anyone know about the story of Bénézet?”

It’s a historical tale—I never learned it myself, but for Maizey, she studied it.

“Yes, it’s about the boy who heard voices from angels to build the bridge.”

The cars were loud. I fixed my bag as Elsa nodded, though the furrow of her brow told us that’s not where the story ended.

“Yes, but when it comes to history, there is always interpretation. Read between the lines, think about why people wrote or said what they did instead of always who and when.”

For me, that moment shaped my day. She was right, and it gave me a moment of reflection. Since we got there, I’d been looking at the narrow alleyways and ancient corridors from an “inside” the box perspective: What, factually, occurred here? But, as we made our way across the bridge, my mindset changed. Instead of trying to only imagine the facts, I let myself enjoy the idea of Catholic monks or noblemen on horseback traveling to and from Avignon. I imagined their dialect, diet, reason for going—I had fun. I immersed myself more than I could have with the “insider” thought process, too.

Looking back on the city, I felt relieved in a way. I had always felt pressure to overachieve at school, sports, and hobbies. Something that persists. But after I took the walls of what I could think about and reflect about instead of what I had to, I went back into the walls today with an “outside the wall” mentality. And for that, I am grateful.

April 28, 2026

Student Author: Maizey

Hello from Avignon! We started our long journey at 10:00 a.m. at Porter’s, saying goodbye to our friends and family. We then drove to JFK where we hopped on a redeye to Paris. We were all exhausted after the hours of travel and the two screaming babies on our flight. We were greeted by one of our wonderful guides, Alex, and we enjoyed our first croissant of the trip. Although, we were just getting started.

At 8:30 a.m. (France time) we boarded our train that would take us to our final destination of Avignon.

Riding through the countryside was one of my favorite parts of the day. Immediately after leaving the station the scenery shifted revealing green hills filled with farmland and crops. Not only was the scenery beautiful but it was also the first time we all interacted without our phones. You could hear our laughter throughout our car as we dug through all of our card games. This was also a time for many of us to rest. It was super cool to see each place that the train stopped and compare how different each one was from the next.

After our 3 hour train ride, we finally arrived in Avignon. My immediate observation was the architecture. The city is unlike any other. Even passing by train stops, there were obvious differences between the locations even in such close proximity. The city is beautiful with large walls surrounding the heart of the city. You feel an immediate shift as you enter through the gates.

In our orientation activities we were able to explore the city through silent walks. As someone who really likes to talk, I wasn’t expecting to like this. But it allowed me to examine each street specifically, the modernization, a reflection of different time periods. Walking around the city felt like a whole new world. The streets are narrow and very few cars pass through. Coming from the U.S.A. I have grown up knowing cities like Boston and New York. These cities continue to expand and modernize.

In comparison, shifts in modernization are viewed very differently in Avignon. As I mentioned, the streets reflect the many stages of Avignon’s culture showing us the impact that preservation efforts can have on a city and its values.

I also know that my perspective as a tourist adds to my observations. I do not know everything about the city’s history and culture but I look forward to learning. Especially from others whose experience of the city is completely different from my own.

I miss everyone and am so excited to share everything when we get back!

Student Author: Kate

This morning, we landed safely in Paris! The flight was very smooth. I mainly read my book, listened to music, and tried to sleep. We had two meals while on the flight, a dinner and a breakfast, which felt very silly because they were served at times that we were not yet used to.

At the airport, after getting through immigration and while waiting for our train to Avignon, we met one of our lovely tour guides! She was very friendly, helpful, and brought us all croissants! Then, me and a couple of friends attempted to order lattes in French; when the person taking our order started replying in English, we knew we needed to keep practicing. The latte was very yummy and warm (the only option, which surprised us all). After finishing our drinks, we boarded our train, and immediately upon leaving the train station, outside the window to my left were beautiful fields of green grass, blooming yellow flowers, and tall trees with rich brown trunks and dark green leaves. Many people (including my lovely roommate Katharine) noted that the rolling hills were especially beautiful. Then pretty much all of us decided to catch up on our sleep for the rest of the train ride.

At this point in the day, I was already beginning to see a lot of ideas that we talked about in class come to life—one being the tourist vs. traveler mindset. We identified in class that a tourist in these spaces would be loud, disrespectful, and not blending in with everyone, while a traveler would try to immerse themselves in the culture, even in small ways like trying the local coffee shop rather than defaulting to something you already know. A traveler is also respectful and aware of who is around them. I can definitely see all of us intentionally shifting into the traveler mindset so that we can be the most interculturally competent and fully immerse ourselves in this unique experience we get to have.

Once we arrived in Avignon, we got off the train and took a quick bus ride into the walls of the city. It was so cool to see them in person after talking about their significance so much in class. We dropped our bags off at the hotel and began our activities. We began by splitting into our cohorts, where we split up even further into three groups. We then took turns leading each other around, just walking wherever we wanted to walk, turning when we wanted to turn.

Just from our 20-minute walk, I was able to see why people would want to live in cities, particularly ones like Avignon. Avignon is a very walkable city; we only saw a few cars and many bikes. Transportation in a city is much easier and in many cases very accessible. But that can also be why people leave cities. When it is difficult to go from one place to the other, especially for things like your job, people don’t want to stay because of these challenges.

As someone who grew up in a city that is not very accessible by transportation options like walking or public transportation, when I step into cities like Avignon, they surprise me, especially to see the amount of walkers, bikers, and the occasional (free!) buses that residents use to get around. I am looking forward to continuing learning my way around Avignon and immersing myself in the culture!

I miss everyone at home and school, but fret not, I will be back soon with many stories, pictures, and VLOGS!