France: Felix Shouse Tourino (A Home Away from Home in Aix-en-Provence)

November 25, 2025

Although both Aix and my city of origin, Madison, are student towns, my routine in Aix is, in many ways, very different. The greatest and most noticeable change in my routine is Aix’s walkability. Being able to walk everywhere and living largely without buses or cars was a first a novelty that has now become part of my everyday life. Although Aix boasts a robust bus system, it’s so walkable that I take the bus at most once every two weeks – if even that frequently – and walk everywhere else.

A photo of a bakery on the side of a street. The bakery has three yellow round tables with two chairs at each one that are blue and white weaved material. The awning is dark red and says "Boulangerie Saint Sauveur". Inside the bakery a woman is buying something — Saint-Sauveur Boulangerie, the bakery just down the street from my university in Aix-en-Provence.

Another part of my life in Aix that has become habitual is studying at the school itself instead of at a library. Sciences Po-Aix has two small libraries, where students sometimes study, but the majority of my studying happens in the “work café,” a collaborative space in the center of the main building with lots of sitting room, where students often meet to work on group projects or complete assignments between classes. Studying at the work café, as opposed to at a library – which is my habit in the US – has become routine. Also, Sciences Po-Aix is a small school, meaning that you always run into a friend at the work café, which is my favorite thing about it – it’s such a warm, communal environment!

I’ll miss so many different parts of Aix when I return home, but one of the spots that I’ll miss the most is the Saint-Sauveur Boulangerie, a bakery just down the street from Sciences Po-Aix. It’s my favorite place to grab a baguette to make a quick lunch, or a coffee and pain au chocolat as a breakfast before a morning class. Having fresh-baked bread available at a moment’s notice is something I’ll miss when I leave Aix!

A photo of Felix, a male student, from the shoulders up. Felix is smiling with his mouth closed and has short, dark brown, curly hair. He is wearing a dark green t-shirt and is standing in front of water.

Felix Shouse Tourino

Hometown: Saint Joseph, Minnesota

Major: History; French

Program: Academic Program in Aix-en-Provence

One of my academic goals is to conduct research on my senior thesis while in Aix-en-Provence. I want to write about the French colonization of Algeria, and the Colonial Archives are located in Aix-en-Provence. This will allow me to research my senior thesis subject on-site while simultaneously studying abroad!

I chose my program because I wanted to experience a full year of language immersion. I want to improve my French skills as much as possible, and a year in France at a French university will give me the best opportunity to do so!