I started to write this post after a lovely afternoon in my sit spot with friends. It was quite possibly the perfect temperature. The sun shone overhead and the breeze rustled the leaves above. One of my least favorite things about Vendome is that you are not allowed to sit on the grass. Usually this rule is not actively enforced and people lay and picnic on the lawn. Unfortunately, just as we set up our going-away party for our friend who leaves tomorrow, a groundskeeper came over to say “no sitting here.” Gathering all of our snacks, we set up on the stones bordering the grass to feast on cheese, baguettes, strawberries, and honey. I’d like to note that cheese is truly one of the things I’ll miss most about Aix-en-Provence. France takes their cheese very seriously and many times these varieties feature infusions of local flavors (for example, one of the goat cheeses we tried had petals from local flowers). To illustrate the importance of cheese to French culture, I can give you an example from the school where I volunteered over the course of the semester. We were playing a game of Pictionary when one of the kids decided to draw a tartiflette (a potato and cheese dish). They were shocked and appalled when I said I had never had it before. Clearly, you have not lived if you have not experienced French cheeses and their affiliated dishes.

My sit spot before leaving. I feel so fortunate that I was able to see the roses.

Ultimately, these more local connections between the farm and table are things I’m going to miss back in the States. However, I hope to search out farmer’s markets at home and keep fresh foods like the ones I’ve enjoyed here in my diet. This appreciation will also find its way into my final project for this fellowship. I’ve started to put together a small walking guide/brochure for Aix-en-Provence offering ways to soak in the environment around us. The brochure prompts visitors to think about the wildflowers they pass on their walks about town and the produce that finds its way onto their dinner plate. One of the biggest takeaways from this fellowship for me is the act of noticing the environment around me. There is so much beauty in the natural world when you keep your eyes open. Noticing also means you open yourself up to think critically about the way humans are treating our world. 

Now that I’m back stateside and falling into my old routines, I am attempting to keep some of these French habits with me. I’ve been looking out for the wildflowers and listening to the birdsongs (how nice it is to see robins again). I am going to the grocery store with my dad and thinking about what’s in season. I’m looking for ways to be a more active member of my community. This summer and beyond, I hope to continue to be more aware of my surroundings and all of the incredible living things around me. I plan to look for opportunities that promote conservation and environmental education.

On the left is my host dog staring out the window in the car. On the right, an ocean away, is the blue sky above my home.