Hi! I’m Bayley and I’m just about to finish up my Bachelor of Arts at the University of Newcastle. I knew late last year that I had to complete my studies abroad to finish my French Studies major on a high note, so funded by the generous Kelver Hartley Semester Exchange Scholarship, I’ve made my way to France! I was drawn to Le Mans Université for its fantastic language programs, for the existing links between LMU and UON, and of course for the famous car race 24 Hours of Le Mans, which I am devastated to have learned I missed. I’ve been on exchange for two months now and I have about a million things I could say about life here, but I’ll try not to ramble too much.
While in France, I’m living on campus at LMU, meaning I’ve really improved my sense of the ideal time in the evening to switch from saying ‘bonjour’ to ‘bonsoir’ in the halls, and I’ve truly perfected the French phrase for ‘sorry, this burner doesn’t work’ in the kitchen. It’s cosy and pretty friendly in passing, but it’s a bit less communal than what I experienced living on campus at the University of Newcastle; I wouldn’t say it’s a hub for making friends like it is back home, which was an expectation I had to adjust.
Honestly, I assumed it was a bit of a stereotype that French people were ‘coconuts’, before I arrived—hard on the outside and only soft once you finally manage to crack them open. It has been the case for some professors and students here in Le Mans though, which has been something to keep in mind. Professors are never familiar ‘tu’ but always respectful ‘vous’, and it’s utterly unthinkable to call Madame or Monsieur by their first name! This was a bit of a trial to get used to for an Australian who’s grown up seeing friendliness as equal to respect, but it’s surprising how quickly you can adjust.
Of course, I’ve obviously met some super friendly and approachable Frenchie’s since I arrived, even among the faculty, but these differences in norms are something to keep in mind and perhaps research a little before you arrive at your host university. Just because people aren’t immediately your best friends doesn’t mean they don’t like you! Learning to adjust the energy you bring to social situations is just part of the fun and challenge of a real international experience.
Something else to keep in mind when exchanging to another country is the different way education is delivered there. Here, it’s a bit more like high school than university—all the chairs facing one way in tutorials, compulsory in-person attendance and justification of absences, full days of classes for students doing the standard program. If you’re too late to the lecture, the professor will kick you out, which mercifully has not happened to me (yet). I would guess that the difference can be chalked up partly to the fact that French people don’t pay much for university (less than €200 a year at a public university), meaning it’s seen as a privilege rather than a right you’ve paid for. It’s definitely a new way of looking at university!
Style of education aside, if you’re studying a language, I really recommend taking courses delivered in your second language if you get the chance to study abroad. Even just one class worth of immersion makes such a difference! Especially because, depending on where you go, your new friends will probably switch to English if you’re struggling a bit—both very kind and very frustrating when you’re there to improve. Taking classes in your second language guarantees you time to practice, no matter how good your new friends are at English. I have to recommend taking at least one class in English, though, just to give your mind a break.
That said, do challenge yourself. An exchange is a challenge in and of itself but everything from despairing that there were no lecture recordings to getting the chance to visit Puy du Fou and watch insane French people put on a spectacular show has been a valuable experience and something to remember. Whether you feel ready or not, take the opportunity to experience another way of living, to make new friends, and to travel around while you’re there because the plane ride over was definitely long and expensive!
If you are interested in a study abroad opportunity, you can find more information here.
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