Taking a breather from cover letters, resumes and applications for engineering internships, Aurelien Mante relaxes in the Golden Roast Café and considers the many differences between the United States and his home country of France.

Aurelien is an international student from France and will complete his senior year in industrial engineering after studying at the University of Tennessee.  Having been in the U.S. for more than seven months, he is able to point out distinct differences between it and France in such areas as the media, education, and the general dispositions of the people in each country.

Aurelien chose to study abroad in the United States for three main reasons.  First, he studied the English language during his education in France and desired to put his knowledge of the language into practice. 

He desired to do so in America because he heard that the country's education system had prestige in engineering, and he aimed to combine the pros of his American and French engineering instructions to form a well-rounded and esteemed knowledge of the major.

Apart from practicing the language and receiving a quality education, Aurelien wished to study in America simply for curiosity's sake.  He wanted to experience firsthand the America about which he had been taught so much in school.

Concerning the state of the media in each country, Aurelien made no hesitation to say that he would more readily believe what he heard or read in French news rather than American news.  This, he says, is due to the excessive bias that glares through most American media.  Though it is not openly expressed, opinions clutter the goal of objectivity in news reporting.  France, he says, has best retained the ability to deliver news without bias.

Another discrepancy between French and American media that Aurelien noticed is that America's focus on more individual and petty matters while France focuses on bigger issues.  He commented that France would not do what America has done with Britany Spears in the media.  Instead, France focuses on matters that affect a larger body of people, and it stays focused on each subject until a more new and affecting story shifts its attention.

Besides the stress and complications of finding an internship for the upcoming summer, Aurelien has little difficulty with regards to classes at UT.  He used the phrase "on holiday" several times when referring to his current education experience in the U.S.  He added that so far at UT he has not needed the breaks that the school provides whereas in France he considered them to be a necessity. 

Aurelien explained that in France there are universities designed strictly for engineering majors, and they are very difficult.  All he knows about public universities is through his friends.  Due to the recognized toughness of engineering schools in France, Aurelien would jokingly tell his friends that they were on holiday.  He laughed and said that they usually agreed.

Currently in France, Aurelien described the passing of an education law that is being heavily protested.  Many students are protesting the law to make schools more independent from the government because such a law deters from the socialist foundations of France.  The students stand outside the schools and do not let anyone enter.  This creates riots which often require police intervention.

Shifting to a more personal focus, Aurelien expressed appreciation for the people he knows in America.  Though he can only speak for the small population of Americans whom he has met, Aurelien stated with confidence "American people are great."  He attributes his smooth integration into American society and college life to the openness and friendliness of the people he has met.

Aurelien explained that while Americans are friendly, open, have a wide circle of friends and seem to talk about everything to everyone, French people are more reserved.  They have a close circle of a few friends with whom they open up, and they rarely reach out to strangers. 

Though they appear to be ruder, Aurelien noted that French people tend to be more sincere and abrupt than Americans.  He noticed that Americans often beat around the bush and avoid confrontation, but the French tell it how it is and are not afraid to enter a debate.

Though he is partial to his home country, Aurelien is enjoying his time spent in America and feels that he is benefiting from it.  He is currently seeking to spend an extra summer in American by finding at internship in the States.