Features Reporter
Photo by Brian Wise
School: Université des Antilles et de la Guyane (University of the French West Indies and Guyana)
Studying: Kinesiology
What do you want to do with your degree?
Maybe a primary school teacher or an instructor at a university.
How did your learn English, and how has it improved since coming here?
I studied when I was 11 or 12 every year in school, but it was only one or two hours every week. I was really bad in English when I arrived. I think I was the worst of all the international students. It was hard in my classes in the beginning. I think I’ve improved a lot.
What has been the most rewarding part of being an exchange student?
Discovering another country, another culture—it’s amazing. It’s totally different. Me, I live on an island, so everything is really small, and here everything is huge. I love this state.
Would you rather live completely alone or with 20 other people?
I think I would choose alone. I was with five other students this year. It was really cool to share everything, and, for my English, it was really cool to always have someone with me, but sometimes you need a quiet room to relax.
In what ways, if at all, have people stereotyped you for being French?
First, the accent. They say French is a really sexy language. Everybody likes it. And that we have good cheese and good food.
Would you rather be able to run 100 mph or fly, but only at 10 mph?
Well, when you fly, you can go wherever you want, but slowly. If you run fast, it’s cool if you’re busy. I think I would choose flying because it would be cool, and nobody can do it, so if I can, I would.
Would you rather only be able to whisper or only be able to shout?
I think I would choose the first one. All my friends already say, “Speak louder Melanie!”
If you were an animal what would you be?
Maybe a bird. The liberty and freedom I suppose is really cool.
How do French and American music compare?
We have a lot of American music [in France]. France would be more rock. In the Caribbean, it’s completely different, like soca and reggae.
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