Blaze ’28 and Philip ’29 highlight the diverse cultural layers of Arles.
In the morning, we worked in groups to create short advertisements encouraging people to visit Arles. Robert and I decided to focus on one of the most important parts of any travel experience: food. Our advertisement highlighted the cultural significance of dining in the city, featuring local cafés and, admittedly, quite a lot of ice cream. While filming, we realized how central food is to daily life in Arles. Meals and cafés serve as gathering places, bringing people together in public squares and along the city’s winding streets.
Later in the afternoon, we visited the Alyscamps, an ancient Roman necropolis that has served as a burial site for centuries. After spending some time exploring as a group, we were invited to draw inspiration from both our surroundings and the work of Vincent van Gogh, who famously painted scenes from the Alyscamps during his time in Arles. While many students sketched the tree-lined pathways and stone sarcophagi above ground, I found myself drawn to the crypt beneath a nearby church. The dark, ominous passageways, aged arches, and scattered fragments of stone created an atmosphere that felt both mysterious and timeless. The irregular shapes were especially enjoyable to draw because they encouraged observation and interpretation rather than precise replication.
That evening, I joined my host brother, Pierre, to his MMA practice. As a wrestler at Deerfield, I was excited to experience a different style of combat sport. During practice, I learned a side-roll technique that follows directly after a sprawl and can lead into a shoulder submission. We also spent time live-sparring. One of the most interesting lessons of the night was discovering how certain wrestling habits do not translate well into MMA–translation of moves, not languages. Despite the learning curve, I gradually adapted and was able to apply some of my wrestling experience successfully against some of the other athletes.
The day showcased many different sides of Arles: its food culture, its deep Roman roots, its artistic legacy, and even its sports community. Each experience offered a different perspective on the city and helped me appreciate the many ways culture can be expressed and shared.
–Blaze
On Tuesday, we began the day with a lesson on French politics, focusing specifically on Arles. We learned about the many political parties that compete for influence in the city and the ideas each party represents. We then designed campaign posters for ourselves and held a mock election within the class (Simona won).
After class, we split into two groups for lunch. At our restaurants, we enjoyed fresh dishes made with local ingredients. I ate a delicious pesto pasta, which was one of my favorite meals so far. After lunch, we took a walk to a nearby museum dedicated to women and equestrian culture in the Camargue. We then continued on to the Cryptoporticus, an impressive network of underground Roman galleries that still exists beneath the city today.
That evening, I spent time with my host family helping collect strawberries from a friend of my host mother’s farm. Since strawberry season is currently at its peak, harvesting them now was important. As I write this reflection, my host mother is busy turning the freshly picked berries into homemade strawberry jam. After our visit to the farm, I went for a run with my host father before enjoying a simple dinner of mashed potatoes and heading to bed.
From learning about local politics to exploring ancient Roman history and participating in seasonal traditions with my host family, the day offered another meaningful glimpse into everyday life in Arles.
–Philip
