Exchange in France
Studying abroad is a transformative experience that shapes the way we see the world. For me, my time as an exchange student in Antibes, France, holds a special place in my heart. Antibes is a picturesque coastal town nestled between Nice and Cannes on the French Riviera, known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and picturesque Mediterranean scenery.
Antibes became my second home for a semester, and the memories I made there have stayed with me long after I returned.
The rampart walls in Antibes Old Town - one of my favourite spots to watch the sun set
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When I first arrived in Antibes, I could hardly believe it was real. The idea of living in such a scenic and culturally rich place felt like something out of a dream.
I remember the first time I wandered around the Old Town (Vieil Antibes), exploring the narrow streets lined with colourful houses. I got happy butterflies because it was so perfect.
Port Vauban, the sparkling blue sea, and the quaint cobblestone streets filled with cafes and boutiques were straight out of a fairytale - it was everything I had pictured and more, which is unbelievably rare.
The slower pace of life immediately made me more grounded and at ease after spending five weeks on the move through Europe.
My first night I bought a fresh baguette from one of the countless bakeries (boulangeries) and a bottle of wine that was so delicious I couldn’t believe it was only 2 euros.
There was something magical about the way history seemed to be alive here, with a traditional way of living still intact and the ancient Fort Carré offering a glimpse into centuries past. The charm of Antibes was undeniable, and I couldn’t wait to explore every corner.
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Living in France as an exchange student wasn’t without its challenges, especially when it came to the language barrier. While I had learned French in school, speaking it fluently in everyday situations was a different story.
Luckily, since Antibes has a lot of English visitors due to the yachting and tourism scene, most of the locals did speak English. However, I was determined to immerse myself as much as I could and enrolled in French at my exchange university.
It also helped that my roommates were from Morocco and spoke mostly French at home, which gave me more insight into slang and everyday language rather than the formal version I learned at school.
Honestly, it was pretty tough and I underestimated how long it would take to pick up. I still wouldn’t call myself fluent, but looking back on when I first arrived, I did learn a LOT.
From a cultural perspective, I really loved diving into the French way of life and trying to adapt their traditions into my life. For example, I loved going to all the different shops (e.g. the boulangerie, the butcher and the market) and buying what I needed for the day, rather than a big grocery shop that results in waste and leftovers.
One thing that did take a lot of getting used to was the sleep schedule. I found that French people love to sleep in and go to bed later at night, which is a big contrast to Australia where the early bird gets the worm and all the cafes are open at 6am.
When my boyfriend Joey came to visit, he was up and at it at 7am, eager to get a coffee and explore. I had to explain to him that all the cafes didn’t open until at least 8am-9am and the streets would be empty if we went now!
At the other end of the day, in Australia, if we’re going out at night, pre-drinks will start around 5pm, before heading out at around 8-9pm. The French would never dream of going out before at least 11pm (and that’s early!). So I definitely had to steel myself for nights out.
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Attending university in France was a big learning curve for me. I went to SKEMA, which is an international business school in Sophia Antipolis - a 15min drive from Antibes.
However, having no car, I had to take the bus everyday, which ended up being at least a 45min journey both ways, getting gradually more packed with people at every stop along the way. On my first day, I think around half the exchange students were late trying to figure out the bus schedules and tickets (in French!).
One of the biggest aspects of exchange I was excited about was making lots of French friends.
However, this was not the case at all! I think because I didn’t speak French at all and because I was leaving after the semester anyway, I didn’t really appeal as a friend, which is probably fair enough.
However, I did make friends with the other international exchange students. I was the only one from Australia surprisingly, but I made lots of friends from the United States, some from Sweden, some from Norway and some from Spain.
Experiencing the same feeling of being a fish out of water, away from home in a foreign place, really bonded us all and I know that they’ll be forever friends of mine.
A big difference between uni in Australia and France was how seriously the French take education. The students do very, very long, hard days and attendance is mandatory. I remember at orientation when they said if we miss more than four classes (one per subject) we would fail the course. Definitely no flexibility/online classes like home!
Then they go home and do homework for each of their classes. No rest days! However, despite my disappointment at actually having to study during my study abroad trip (fancy that), I found that I retained information way better and my learning efficiency definitely improved.
Another big difference between uni at home and in France was the length of the lectures. A class in France would go for 3 hours, with a 15min break in the middle. For someone used to only 1-2hr classes, this was a big adjustment!
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One of the perks of living in Antibes was the proximity to some of the most stunning spots along the French Riviera. The train line ran right along the coast from the border of Italy down as far as Marseilles. On weekends, I would often take day trips to nearby towns like Cannes, where the famous film festival takes place, or Nice, with its Promenade des Anglais with the numberous beach clubs dotted along the shore. There was also the iconic Monaco, a tiny but lavish principality, which felt like stepping into a movie set with its extravagant casinos and yachts.
Although I had so many to choose from, my favourite towns I visited are (in order) Saint Paul-de-Vence, Saint Jean Cap-Ferrat, Villefranche-Sur-Mer, Menton and Grasse.
Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a charming hilltop village, known for its narrow, winding streets, medieval stone houses, and breath-taking views of the surrounding landscape. I had saved a picture on Pinterest when I was about 12, of a 12th-century home in the village lived in by Jacques Prevert, a famous French poet. It was so special to be able to see it in person!
Saint Jean Cap-Ferrat is a glamorous peninsula, known for its luxurious villas and wealthy inhabitants. However, it also has an absolutely stunning coastal walk around the rocky cliffs with clear turquoise waters below. My friend Charlotte and I packed sandwiches to take along the way and ate them on top of a cliff overlooking the wide bay and Villefranche-sur-Mer on the other side, it was beautiful. Another highlight was our visit to the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, which is a gorgeous, light pink Renaissance villa with immaculately-maintained gardens.
Villefranche-sur-Mer is a little coastal town in between Nice and Monaco, known for its stunning harbour and colourful buildings. The vibrant waterfront is lined with cafes and restaurants, offering views of the turquoise water. The beaches, (such as the Plages des Marinieres and Plage de l’Ange Gardien), are truly stunning.
Menton is right on the border of Italy and has a lot of Italian influence on its food and culture. The town is famous for its brightly-coloured buidlings and annual lemon festival. There is also a great indoor market and lush botanical gardens.
Grasse is the perfume capital of the world and it was really cool to visit all the workshops and museums to learn about the art of fragrances. There is also a beautiful old town with a vivid installation of pink umbrellas above the narrow streets.
But for me, Antibes itself was the most special place. Every day I walked around the old town along the rampart walls looking out to the ocean, and then back down past all the boutigues and restaurants. It was during these walks that I truly appreciated the beauty of my surroundings and the privilege of living in such a special little pocket of the world.
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Of course, no experience in France would be complete without indulging in the local food, and Antibes did not disappoint. From croissants and baguettes in the morning to seafood fresh from the Mediterranean, I savoured every bite.
When Joey came to visit, we set out to find the best croissant in the region - no easy task. They were all buttery, flaky and melted in your mouth, especially when still warm from the oven! We particularly liked to dip them in our cappuccinos from Nomads Coffee, my favourite cafe in Antibes.
One of my fondest memories was trying lots of different restaurants in the old town with my Swedish friend Selma. Some of the French delicacies we tried were baked camembert, duck terrine with crusty bread, oysters (with champagne, of course) and escargot in a buttery, garlicky sauce.
A memory that stands out is when we went to the Antibes Wine and Gastronomy Fair and got to sample multiple different kinds of wine from around the region, paired with fresh cheeses, chocolate, honey, nougat, antipasto and other treats.
As it got colder and more Christmas markets popped up, we also enjoyed trying all the food and drinks at the various stalls, like raclette, crepes, roasted chestnuts and mulled wine.
I loved that food in France is not just about quick sustenance; it's about long meals full of connection, culture, and slowing down to enjoy life’s pleasures.
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Looking back, being an exchange student in Antibes was a life-changing journey. It would be impossible to fit all the aspects of such an important chapter in my life into a short blog post and honestly I’ll probably add way more to this post, or write individual posts about the different towns.
It wasn’t just about exploring new places or learning a new language; it was about stepping outside my comfort zone, embracing a new way of life, and growing as an individual. The memories of Antibes and the connections I made will stay with me forever.
If you ever have the opportunity to live abroad, I highly recommend taking the plunge. You may not always feel completely comfortable at first, but the experiences and memories you create will shape you in ways you can’t even imagine. For me, Antibes will always be a place where my heart feels at home.
