My mom came for Parents Weekend and it was a great time, she was really in her French moment. She lived in Aix when she was in college so it was very sentimental for her to come and see me living the French lifestyle. 

We went and visited her old house which has now been turned into a store called CBD Garden which she spent way too much time staring into. I think she just needed some time to process. On the second day we painted at the Mediterranean Sea and my mom who had never painted before made a better painting than me which was very humbling.  

She lived in Aix when she was in college so it was very sentimental for her to come and see me living the French lifestyle. We went and visited her old house which has now been turned into a store called CBD Garden which she spent way too much time staring into. I think she just needed some time to process. On the second day we painted at the Mediterranean Sea and my mom who had never painted before made a better painting than me which was very humbling.  

Friend, Alum, Admissions, Dorm Parent, Chaperone (for Gypsy) Alicia Barry in the house. 

No swimming today. the surf was pounding the rocks.  Anyway, Dave recommended a really good restaurant that night which I really enjoyed. The next day we went to the Aix street market...

During Parents Weekend we painted near Mt. St. Victoire and we had our third graded studio session - still life in charcoal, where representational realism was the goal. 

Eva Patterson

Scenes from our house during the golden hour. 

One of my favorite parts about living in Aix-en-Provence is the market along Cours Mirabeau on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Coming from Brooklyn, New York, visiting flea markets is a frequent activity, but very few hit quite like the one in Aix. The Aix market is full of vendors, each having its individual style and, for the most part, is very reasonably priced. Although I love thrifting in New York, finding a fire vintage piece will require an early rise, and if you’re somewhere popular, like the Chealse Flea Market, it’ll cost you $45-60. Due to the plethora of items in the Aix market, you will find something regardless of how late in the morning you come. Something I love about the market is picking up on the quickly changing clothing trends throughout the vendors. Even though each stand is different, there is always a noticeable type of clothing many are pushing that week. Every time I visit a new place, it's always fun seeing that area's style and incorporating it into my own, and the market is a perfect place to get a sense of what people are wearing. If you enjoy fashion and immersing yourself in a new community, the market is the place to go.

France '23