2024 MCC France Marine Biology Study Ablog

 This week in Marine Biology we took the train to Antibes to go Kayaking. Here we got to kayak further into the Mediterranean sea. Something that we saw that was new to me was fish farms where they breed fish in the middle of the sea. I learned more names of fish from the fish quiz that I had never known nor heard about before. We also went to Cannes this week & took a boat to île Sainte-Marguerite and got to explore the island for a couple of hours. It was all a very nice experience or exploring new places and learning new things.

 It’s officially the end of the last week here in France. Overall, this trip has been a blast, and I’ve learned many necessary lessons along the way. I’ve made friends and memories with people in the group and those outside of it, such as my host mom. This week, Alix and I had the opportunity to spend the evening at our apartment dancing and singing the night away with our host mom, Nathalie. We had so much fun getting to see her open up, sing, and dance the night away with us as she introduced us to music, and we did the same.  Everything begins to come to a close in class as we prepare for our finals. While we may be done with our lectures and class times, we still have the opportunity to continue learning Marine Biology through a kayaking excursion on the ocean. Let me tell you, the people who kayak on the ocean every day must have some of the most strong, toned, and developed muscles in their cores, arms, and shoulders because that is NOT an easy hobby to have. During our excursion

 This week was an exciting adventure! I visited Monte Carlo and Monaco, in awe of all the luxurious surroundings and historic buildings. I spent time at an archeological museum, delving into the region's ancient past. In Nice, I explored the beautiful Nice Cathedral, appreciating its stunning architecture. My biology class and I went kayaking in the ocean, enjoying the activity itself and the clear ocean waters. We also visited Cannes, famous for its film festival, and the picturesque Les Îles de Lérins, where the natural beauty and serene environment provided a perfect opportunity to join nature. Also watched a friend purposefully get himself stung by a jellyfish. It was an amazing and unforgettable time.

 This week I found it interesting to learn about different types of marine mammals, turtles, and various families of fish. One thing I didn't know before was that different species of whales can have a single or double blowhole, and they could be identified by observing how they spray out water when they breach the surface for air. Out of our excursions this week, I had the most fun kayaking and spending the day in Juan Les Pins. The weather was great and made for waves that were quite entertaining to paddle through. I also enjoyed visiting other places like Ventimiglia, Eze, and Cannes. Ventimiglia has a great beach, Eze has a cool hiking path through the mountains, and Cannes has a neat market. Overall, I think this trip has been the best experience I've had so far and I loved spending such a great time with others. Bird refuge on the island of Sainte Marguarite

 For this third week, we visited Cannes. Even though the day was cloudy and it rained a bit, Cannes still looked stunning. When we arrived at the port and looked towards the beach, I was amazed to see that we were surrounded by jellyfish, which are a favorite snack for turtles. The shoreline was bustling with life-tiny shrimp, small fish, jellyfish, and snails. It felt like a lively underwater scene come to life. What really surprised me was seeing so many jellyfish right by the shore. I’ve been to other beaches before, but I’ve never seen this many jellyfish up close. It made me realize how different each beach can be and how much sea life is right there in the shallows, just waiting to be noticed. The sight of so many creatures all together was really fascinating and a bit unexpected, adding a special touch to my visit to Cannes.

  As I explored Cannes today I overheard the tale of a local mystery. Venturing to the island where the enigmatic prisoner known as the Man in the Iron Mask was once held captive, I delved into the intriguing history surrounding his identity. Imagining the isolation and secrecy shrouding his confinement, I pondered the countless theories and speculations that have swirled around his enigma for centuries. As I wrap up my final blog post, I reflect fondly on my study abroad journey, grateful for the enriching experiences and unforgettable memories that France has offered me. I would also want to say thank you to the wonderful instructors, Alex and Mary, for being generally awesome and gracious with the assignments. And of course, thank you to all the friends I made in France, without the great instructors and people I met on this trip this would not be as fantastic and memorable as it was. So again, thank y’all for making my first trip to Europe a memorable one.

 This past week we were running around like chickens with our heads cut off. Sadly whale watching got canceled tomorrow because of weather which kinda sucks but at least we have a free day to explore more of France before we leave in a couple days😔. Yesterday we went to Antibes and kayaked in the ocean. It was pretty windy though which just made it more of a workout. Today we went to Cannes and took a ferry to St. Marguerite where the beach ended up being covered in jellyfish. This may or may not have led to a silent benefactor paying me $30 to get stung by one.

  This week we learned about some of the sea mammals we will be learning about during our excursions. The whales and turtles are some of the cutest creatures under the sea. On Sunday in Villefranche, we will be able to see the whales in their habitat. Yesterday, we kayaked in Juan Les Pins. Alicia and I fell out of our kayak while switching spots. The kayak bonked me on the head. It was interesting to see the fish farm that lay in the middle of the water. We had talked to a local restaurant owner and he told us they get tired of eating the same fish all the time.

  This week in France we've been to a couple very interesting places! At the start of the week we visited an archeological museum which was home to many relics and an actual roman structure. We went kayaking in the Mediterranean, it turns out that kayaking whilst contending with actual waves is more strenuous than just kayaking in Payson! (Also I fell into the ocean like 5 times haha) Soon we'll be going whale watching, which is very exciting, and after that we're going to visit the musee oceanographique in Monaco. The trip is coming to an end in a couple days, which is sad, but c'est la vie, I miss ice water and air conditioning.

 Humanities: This week in our humanities class, we visited an archeological site. The site was constructed by the Romans. I thought that it was really interesting to see the considerations and capabilities of people from so long ago. We also visited a church for the Sainte Reparate alongside learning about church architecture in our class. Biology: This week in biology we learned the names of more fish. I can now identify 25 types of fish. Another really fun experience for this course was kayaking. We got to experience firsthand the salty seas and the waves of the Mediterranean. It also provided us with the opportunity to see the tides and the environment they create.

 This week in Nice was a bit less exciting as far as up close and personal marine biology has gone. Though we will be kayaking and whale watching this week and will hopefully set eyes on some cool fish! Despite not being out in the field, the online lectures have been very interesting. We have been preparing for seeing the whales with our lectures on marine mammals and will hopefully be able to catch a glimpse while we are out on the water. This week has been rich in french culture, though, or should I say Greek and Roman. This is because the area of France that is now Nice used to be Greek, as evident from our trip to the Musée d'Archéologie de Nice-Cimiez which features structures created by the ancient Greeks and Romans.

 This week in Nice was by far my favorite. In biology we learned about marine mammals such as whales, seals, walruses, and sea turtles. Although there was only a bit of information on them, this was my favorite lecture because seals are my favorite animals! I am also very excited about this lecture because we get to experience whale watching! Some French culture I have experienced this week is the word “hup”. My host mother has been saying hup since we first came, though recently I have heard so many other locals say it as well. Everytime our host mom says it now, I say it back and she loves it.

  This week I learned about marine mammals and turtles. I had no idea that Mediterranean Monk seal is highly endangered and is estimated that to only have 600 left in the wild! Their biggest threats are of course humans because we are their biggest food competitors, and we also accidentally catch them in our fishing nets. I also learned that the french peel their peaches. Well at least my host mom peels hers. She looked at me with some much concern when I took a bite without peeling the skin Antibes (below)

  During the second week of this study abroad, we traveled to Cagnes-sur-Mer to visit an estuary and we went snorkeling earlier during the weekend. Seeing the estuary in person was extremely interesting and helpful in learning about how the freshwater and seawater meet and how the wildlife survives and adapts within it. Snorkeling was also such an amazing experience, we swam with jellyfish and got to hold sea urchins and starfish. Despite being worried about being stung by a jellyfish, it was an amazing experience to get to snorkel in the south of France. I also got to enjoy going to see an opera and a movie in a French cinema, which was a very interesting experience. 

 Week 2 in NIce was full of adventure and fun. We got the opportunity to explore an ‘estuary’ and learn about all of the different types of marine life that lived there. Not only did we learn about the marine life that are able to live in both salt and freshwater, but those that can survive in the brackish areas as well. Upon arrival we saw that not only were there ducks in the water, but there was also one of the largest swans that I’ve ever seen. The water further up the river was so clear. It was interesting to see that while the beaches are more so made up of rocks, the area with the brackish water was more sandy and further up the river was muddy/sandy banks.  Being in Nice has grown to be something that I am far more comfortable with. I’ve gotten used to the locals behaviors and have found a few areas and cafes to frequent. While I’ve struggled with sleep and eating is a struggle I am still approaching everyday with optimism for all that I will learn and get to experience. I’ve m

 The first week in Nice was full of new experiences and growing pains. From using apple maps to get everywhere, struggling to communicate with our host family for anything or locals when trying to order food or purchase something from the store, figuring out the trams (and consequently getting lost when using the tram or walking due to confusion from not speaking or understanding French fluently or well), overcoming the learning curve with the homework, and getting over a previous sickness I’d brought with me from the U.S. along with jet lag while living in someone else's home, the trip and experience felt very overwhelming and almost like I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.  For a while I felt as though I was being ungrateful for the privileges I was being given on this trip which left me feeling extremely guilty for having those negative emotions. Due to those emotions I reached out to my mom who, as most mothers do, reassured me that everything would be ok and that I cou

 My second week in Nice, France, was both educational and fun. We had an exciting snorkeling trip in the Mediterranean Sea, exploring the underwater ecosystems and observing various fish and marine life in their natural habitats. This hands-on experience was amazing and helped my understanding of marine biodiversity. Also, some beautiful views of the ocean from the boat my class was on. I also visited Cagnes-sur-Mer, a picturesque coastal town. Here, I learned with my class about estuaries in the French Riviera. We studied the unique environments where freshwater meets saltwater, analyzing the world of ecological aspects that sustain these habitats. Through exploration and research, we gained insights into estuaries dynamics and their importance to marine life. This week was enjoyable for me when it comes to marine biology and widened my appreciation for the balance of marine ecosystems.

  This week we took the train from Nice to Cagnes Sur Mer. Cagnes Sur Mer is home to a habitat known as an estuary. An estuary is an area where freshwater and seawater connect. In the case of the estuary we visited in Cagnes Sur Mer the freshwater is meeting the Mediterranean from the river called Le Loup. This kind of habitat is very important to the local epifauna as well as the infauna. While there we saw many types of fowl (not all water fowl) and fish dipping their heads into the substrate in order to feed upon those infauna. My favorite was the pigeon that I did not get a picture of, but I did see a swan.

  This week in biology we visited an estuary. I am sure it has a lot of value to the ecosystem but I wasn't very impressed. I liked looking at the swan that was there and eating my lunch by the beach the most. We went snorkeling which was one of the highlights of my week. It was very surreal to pretend to be apart of nature for a little bit. I did enjoy a lot of French culture this week at the opera and attending a performance of my host mom's granddaughter. There is a lot of art to enjoy in this city.  It is very dreamy in the south of France. 

  We hopped on a train this week to see an estuary in person in Cagnes-Sur-Mer. Walking up to the estatury, we saw many exhibits of fish iconography, such as multiple swimming metal fish on the shore and a huge building shaped like a fish. I thought they looked identical to a goldfish character. I learned from Professor Alex that many of the large boulders in the area are brought to the beach for aesthetic purposes. I’m still getting used to the rock beaches, but I like being able to go on the beach and leave sand-free. The river leading into the ocean was so interesting to see. When they merge, you could see the different water currents interacting with one another. I wonder what it would be like to live as a duck in that area.

 This week we learned about estuaries and different types of fish that live there. I really enjoyed learning about the estuary because of how natural that is. There’s so much to know about how the waters mix and what animals live there. I thought it was very interesting how some animals had to learn how to adapt. Like how they adapted to the mud and would dig burrows in there and create tubes for their survival. It’s interesting that the animals who thrive the most here are slow moving animals, because of how restricting the mud is. I also thought it was interesting the birds who adapted there as well. I was surprised to see a swan in this part when we went but it was enjoyable to see first hand the animals who thrive in these environments.

 This week in class we learned about estuaries and their importance in the environment. Estuaries are semi-enclosed areas where freshwater and saltwater meet and mix. We learned how characteristics of estuaries such as salinity, substrate, and temperature affects the estuaries and the organisms that function in these estuaries. Estuaries have a rich supply of fish and many of them use the estuary as nurseries. When the young fish are grown enough they move on to either the fresh or seawater side. We also learned about intertidal zones which are the narrow fringe along the shoreline that lies between the highest high and lowest low tide. We learned how organisms cope at these environments.

  During my trip today, I had the pleasure of visiting the Musée Masséna in Nice. This grand villa, with its stunning Belle Époque architecture, houses a rich collection of artifacts and art that beautifully illustrate the history and culture of the French Riviera. I was particularly fascinated by the exhibits on Napoleon and the personal items of the Bonaparte family, which provided a unique glimpse into their lives.  Later, while chatting with friends over dinner, I learned an intriguing fact about marine biology: the Mediterranean Sea is home to a unique species of seagrass called Posidonia oceanica . This ancient seagrass is crucial for maintaining healthy marine ecosystems, providing habitat and oxygen while also helping to combat climate change by capturing significant amounts of carbon. This discovery added an unexpected layer of depth to my understanding of the region's natural environment.

 This week I learned about the different ecosystems that may be present near the Mediterranean. Visiting the estuary during one of our excursions was an interesting way of seeing how fresh water combines with that of the ocean. The estuary that we visited was specifically an urban estuary that different plants and animals have adapted to. We were able to see swans and ducks enjoying the water here. I also enjoyed learning about how even minor details such as the muddy areas contributed to this ecosystem such as the detritus that organisms can feed off of. Not to mention the informative signs around the area were filled with interesting facts that were associated with its surrounding ecosystem. 

 This week I had the opportunity to learn about different families of fish and put together a small essay focusing on one of them, the barracuda. I also had fun visiting a local estuary, which was quite nice to stroll around. As I’ve spent some more time here I am learning a lot more about the language and culture, mainly through being more confident in speaking French, even when I find myself having trouble with it. I find myself really enjoying being able to walk around the city and explore however I want, with public transportation like trams and buses being a greater point of appreciation here than back at home. The different museums we have been to and places with gardens have also been a treat since the plant life is made up of both very familiar species and those that I’ve never seen before. 

 Students toured the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in Saint Jean Cap Ferrat

 This week discover and create new experiences. I had never done snorkeling before, it was an experience that I will not forget, I must say that it was scary at first but then it was really amazing. I had the chance to touch a starfish and also pass by a jellyfish  (I was stung by a jellyfish right at the end of my snorkeling experience), but hey I was stung by a jellyfish in the Mediterranean. Even if I got stung by a jellyfish I can say that they look so beautiful under de water and I am glad that I had the chance to see them.  Also on our other excursion I was able to discover more about the estuaries. Fresh water are generally surrounded by more plants, mud, while salt water we cannot see any vegetation on the outskirts but we do observe that they are usually surrounded by rocks. Also in fresh water we were able to observe organisms such as ducks, goose, and fishes, while in salt water I could not see any organisms on the shores of the sea, I would have liked to have caught a crab

  This week in France, we snorkeled and visited an estuary, albeit an urban estuary. Both these trips were very exiting and I enjoyed being exposed to new marine environments; my favorite part of the snorkeling excursion was putting my head under water and seeing the light dance across my hands, it really was an amazing time! The estuary was very cool too, we learned about how necessary they are too environments and marine communities. As to other new experiences, I've tried new foods and drinks, some of which were very good (I had ceviche, I'm still on the fence) and visited a handful of really beautiful villa's. The opulence is enough to blind you.

  This week I learned about estuaries and how they are  semi enclosed areas where freshwater and saltwater meet and mix. Cannes Sur Mer has an estuary located in Parc Naturel des Rives du Loup where we got to see how an estuary looks and what kind of animals live there! The color of the water was very clear compared to other estuaries in the United States. I am happy that France is protecting this estuary and turned it into a park for everyone to be informed of how important these habitats are. Also I learned that I need to bring bread next time to feed the ducks.

 I loved scuba diving so much! It was a lot of fun to be able to go down and point out all the different kinds of fish and then we could talk about what we saw and the way they acted. Also the sea urchin in my hand was Incroyable(incredible). The estuary was also super cool, I just wish we had time to get in the water there because it seemed so nice. It was also neat to learn about certain kinds of fish instead of just their classes. Of the ones we learned about I think the moray eel was my favorite just because of its uniqueness. 

 This week in Biology, we visited an estuary in Cagnes sur le Mer. We learned that an estuary is a meeting ground between the salty ocean and the freshwater rivers. At the estuary, we observed how the substrate changed as we progressed upstream. With the change of substrate, we discussed how that affects the animals that will inhabit the areas, as well as other life forms. Humanities: This week in the humanities we discussed architecture. Aside from the formal class times and excursions, I went to the opera with many other students. The opera relates to the humanities because it is an art form that reflects culture and life.

 In our marine biology course this week we learned about estuaries and intertidal habitats! With the learning of estuaries, we were able to get to explore one in real life. Although it may have been an urban estuary, it was still fascinating to see. In our intertidal lecture we learned how organisms cope in different environments. The French culture I have encountered this week is Cathedrals. As Lily and I walk the streets we have become very surprised with how many cathedrals randomly pop up that I had no clue about. I love it though! The idea that you can just walk on and by so much history is amazing!