As European Art Classroom off-campus program participants move through their term in Aix-en-Provence, France (and beyond!), Meg '26 offers a window into their daily rhythms. The students are immersed in continuous learning -- from morning Dutch language classes with Jen to prepare for their next excursion to outdoor painting sessions in villages like Ansouis. Though each day brings new challenges, artistic and otherwise, the group has established rhythms and routines that provide comfort and structure and make it "feel like home."
Meg '26
This morning started with everyone making some variation of breakfast. I had toast from a special bakery Dave found for us, topped with jam. After breakfast, we met for our 9:00 a.m. language class with Jen. This week we’re learning Dutch (Dave insists on calling it Flemish) to prepare for our upcoming trip to Belgium. We started with an online introduction today, and tomorrow we’ll practice useful phrases and vocabulary in class. Right now, it sounds like we're all gargling at a sink.
After language, we had about 20 minutes to get ready for our promenade with Dave. Twice a week, he takes us to a new spot for a picnic, sightseeing, and time to work on either our Carnet de Voyage or oil painting. Today’s painting destination was a small village named Ansouis, surrounded by stunning mountains. I left my oil kit at the house, so I worked in my sketchbook instead, sitting next to Georgia, who painted a beautiful landscape. It’s been rewarding to see how everyone’s skills have improved over time — painting outdoors is a challenge, but it’s getting easier for everyone. One of my favorite pieces today was by Lilah, who created a colorful, impressionistic version of the scene.
The drive back home is always one of the best parts of the day. There’s something peaceful about being on those winding provincial roads with no phones, good music playing, and friends chatting or quietly watching the scenery go by. Today felt especially calm — I sat in the third row with Isaac and Will, talking while the rest of the group slowly drifted off to sleep.
When we returned, everyone scattered — some people worked on long-term book projects, others cleaned, played guitar, did laundry, or kept sketching. Annika and Niko were responsible for dinner tonight. At 7:00 p.m., we all met at the table where each person has their napkin, which helps mix up our seating every night. Jen and Dave always plan meals that match where we’ve been traveling, or at the least are Mediterranean, and tonight we had baked cod, along with caprese salad and rice.
After dinner, we had about 20 minutes before book work, which runs from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. Everyone has their usual spot by now, so it’s just a matter of gathering supplies and focusing in for a couple of hours of creative work.
Once book work is done, we have some free time from 10:00 to 11:00 p.m. to hang out, finish personal projects, or grab a snack before heading off to our rooms for the night. That’s one of my favorite things about being here — even though every day is different, there’s a rhythm and routine that makes it feel like home.
View More Photos from European Art Classroom 2025
- European Art Classroom
- Off-Campus Program