by Cory Cruz
Staff Writer
What is Dr. Pepper? What is root beer? These seem like odd questions, but for French student Eric Bouyssou, they are things he never experienced until he arrived at ULV this September.
“The taste is strange to me,” said Bouyssou, referring to Dr. Pepper. “We do not have these things in France.”
Bouyssou came to ULV via the Institute for Political Studies, which is associated with the University of Robert Schuman in Strausbourg, France. His major is political science, with an emphasis on international relations.
“I was attracted to the small number of people in the classroom. English is not my mother tongue and I wanted an instructor with a small classroom,” Bouyssou said, explaining why he chose to come to ULV.
Bouyssou was also interested in coming to ULV after hearing about the school from a friend who had studied here. Bouyssou plans on returning home after the spring semester.
He was initially nervous about making friends. Soon after he arrived, though, he got involved and eventually was elected student of the month for the International Student Organization and is a French assistant in the language lab.
Bouyssou said one of the differences between the U.S. and his native country is the use of air conditioning, which is rarely used in France. He found it odd the everyone uses air conditioners here.
“Americans are crazy,” Bouyssou said. “I think that one day the [whole] United States will be air conditioned.”
Bouyssou is of French and German descent and was raised in both countries.
“Life over here is 40 to 50 percent cheaper than in France,” said Bouyssou, speaking of the major differences he found when he arrived in the States.
Bouyssou has visited some of the trendier sights around Los Angeles and found them to be amusing. He thinks that Venice Beach was one of the most interesting places he has experienced in the U.S.
Amusement parks are not high on Bouyssou’s list to visit because he gets sick on the rides. He said that Disneyland was not for him because, “There is too much fantasy that is in your face and leaves nothing to the imagination.”
Bouyssou said he prefers to pick up a good book and read, which allows him to use his own imagination and not someone else’s.
Bouyssou seems to be on track to accomplishing the goal he has set for himself while in the U.S., which is to be successful in all his courses and to have a good comprehension of his business and political science classes.
Cory Cruz
