This fall, I’ve spent my fall quarter in SCAD’s Lacoste Campus, and it has been an incredible experience. However, that’s not to say that I don’t have a few regrets, so I would love nothing more than to spare future generations of study abroad students, some pain and pass along my advice.
Be a conscious packer.
As a fashion major myself, narrowing down the clothes I wanted to bring was a nightmare. I packed for a literal month and still did not wear half the things I packed. For one, it started getting cold almost immediately after we arrived, and I couldn’t wear my summer clothes. Layering is definitely important and packing clothes that can mix and match. I know that we might want our specialty items, but don’t pack too many of them if they don’t go with many outfits. Also, you’ll go shopping while you’re traveling and need room in your suitcase.
Walking shoes only
I know that heels seem fun, but they are seriously not worth it. Lacoste hills are no joke. You will inevitably be scaling mountains on cobblestone streets, and any shoes that are less than durable are not something you want to waste on precious luggage space. Speaking of luggage, invest in a good travel backpack. On weekend trips, you will not want to roll your suitcase down the streets of Montpellier and feel mortification as the eyes of the French judge you mercilessly.
Travel
Though it can be a pain to actually get out of Lacoste, take the opportunity to travel as many weekends as possible. You can travel to different countries, but I recommend just staying in the Provence region. There are so many great places to explore, and I feel that I got a holistic understanding of Provence by the end of my trip. Every Friday, SCAD hosts ELOs, where they take you to different cities. It’s a great opportunity to take a train to another city and spend the weekend. If you don’t do that, a bus arrives in Lacoste every morning and night and takes you to Cavaillon. You can take a train there to either Avignon or Marseille; from there, you can get anywhere.
Euros are your best friends.
As soon as you arrive in Europe, try to get Euro coins. You’ll need them for public bathrooms, shuttles, laundry machines in Lacoste, and so many other random things. Unfortunately, laundry costs two euros to use the washer and another two to use the dryer, and they only take coins. Stock up on them when you travel because they run out quickly!
It feels like summer camp.
Lacoste truly feels like summer camp. It’s such a small campus, and you spend all your time with the same group of people. At first, you will be busy. Everything is exciting and new, but it might feel a little isolating toward the end. Make sure you have people back home you can call. It’s also important to remember that this is still school. Many people came in with the assumption that this quarter was going to be easy, but they were in for a rude awakening. Professors are considerate of your travel plans, but make sure you communicate and try to keep up with your work because it piles up quickly.
Don’t let that last section fool you. It’s still such an amazing experience and definitely not one to pass on. I’ve made so many new friends and even reconnected with some that I haven’t had time to foster a relationship with back in Savannah. I fully intend on maintaining these friendships when we return to our regular lives, and I even know people who found their roommates here. If you get the chance, I would highly recommend going to Lacoste.
Words by Caroline Tetlow.
Graphic by Anca Dubalaru.