If we ask you, "Do you want a cup of tea?", which country comes to mind? England, of course!
Samuel and Edouard, two third-year students from the Arts et Métiers campus Arts et Métiers Châlons-en-Champagne, didn't go there just for the tea, but also to earn their dual degree atthe University of Bristol.
Read their interview about their experience across the Channel:
When did you arrive in Bristol, and why did you choose this city?
Samuel and Edouard: We arrived in mid-September, just before Welcome Week, which is the week before classes start. During that week, the Student Union (a kind of huge student association for the whole university) organized several events to welcome students and introduce them to the city and the hundreds of university clubs and societies.
Some friends had told us that the city was great, and we weren't disappointed!
Samuel : What really motivated my choice was the academic reputation of the University of Bristol, but also the fact that I would be abroad and able to improve my English. Finally, the program offered by Arts et Métiers appealing Arts et Métiers .
Edouard: The opportunity to spend a year abroad completing my studies in a dynamic city like Bristol motivated me to make this choice.
What are you studying at the University of Bristol?
Samuel and Edouard: We are studying for a Master of Science (MSc) in robotics. For British students, this corresponds to a four-year degree, which is the final year of a Master's program. The course content seems to cover all aspects of robotics, from mechanics to programming, including the ethical and practical issues surrounding the subject.
Edouard: When I was choosing my courses in my first year, I knew I wanted to specialize in robotics. The University of Bristol offered this option and had state-of-the-art facilities for this program. As part of the course, there is also the opportunity to conduct a research project at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, an internationally renowned laboratory, which is also very appealing to me!
What do you like about this university?
Samuel: The facilities are magnificent; some of the buildings feel like Hogwarts! There are also lots of facilities and equipment available to students. The classrooms are well equipped, which is very welcoming: you can arrive and plug in your computer to follow the class in good conditions. The professors also offer a wide variety of projects, which they supervise very well.
Edouard: The university has a wide range of facilities for studying and playing sports. The libraries are even open on weekends. There is a wide range of sports and clubs at the university, from hot air ballooning to Taylor Swift fan clubs: there is bound to be something to suit everyone. What's more, it is a multicultural university, so in a single day you can talk to people from very different backgrounds, which is very enriching.
What do you think going abroad will bring you in terms of your future?
Samuel: First of all, I would say it's an unprecedented cultural openness. We are in another country and there are a lot of foreign students, especially from India and China. Secondly, being in an English-speaking country will inevitably allow me to perfect my use of the language of Shakespeare. This experience, as well as the university's excellent academic reputation, will be assets in my professional life.
Edouard: At the risk of stating the obvious, spending a year abroad is the perfect opportunity to discover a new culture and practice a language through total immersion. I hope that these points will enable me to integrate easily into the professional world and give me a better understanding of international relations in the context of corporate work.
Can you tell us about the importance of the Arts et Métiers dual degree Arts et Métiers
Samuel: The first two years at Arts et Métiers more on industrial culture in general and the rich community life that brings students together around strong values. This year in Bristol will allow us to acquire specific knowledge in a particular field. We would therefore say that this dual degree will provide a comprehensive education from all angles.
Have you experienced any culture shock?
Samuel: The English drive on the wrong side of the road! More than once, I've stepped out onto the street and seen a car speeding by on the other side. The temperature doesn't seem to bother them much: T-shirts seem to be their year-round attire! They also prefer to eat snacks rather than real meals, which doesn't make grocery shopping any easier.
Edouard: As Samuel rightly pointed out, driving on the left is quite unsettling. Staying with the topic of road transport, the queuing systems are quite strict, even at bus stops, which is quite different from what we experience in France.
Rumor has it that English cuisine is different from all others. Can you confirm this?
Samuel and Edouard: It's a big YES!
Samuel: I find English food rather bland and very "chemical," even for dishes that you can eat anywhere and that taste the same everywhere, like pizza. When you go into a supermarket, there's often a large section of ready-made meals that are rather unlikely but not necessarily appetizing. Finding products that are fairly "classic" for France, such as a box of frozen steaks, is more difficult than finding chili-lemon chips.
On a positive note, the fish and chips are very good and well served. A little-known fact is that the English don't just like beer and tea, they also like cider!
Edouard: As a big fan of pastries and puff pastry, I admit that the first few weeks there were difficult when it came to finding ingredients for French cooking. The chips aisle is much better stocked than the fruit and vegetable aisle, for example. But after a bit of research, it is possible to find products that make the change in taste a little easier to handle.
So, have Samuel and Edouard made you want to go and visit our friends across the Channel?
