French undergraduate students Domitille Berge and Paul Charles elected to spend their Fall 2024 semester studying abroad at the American University of Armenia (AUA) in the B.A. in Politics and Governance program. Both students are pursuing a political science degree at the Université catholique de l’Ouest (UCO), Berge at the Angers campus and Charles in Nantes. We asked them to share their motivations behind studying in Armenia, highlights from their time at AUA, and more.
What motivated you to study in Armenia, and specifically at AUA?
Berge: Initially, I wanted to move to the United States and live the American lifestyle about which many teenagers dream. Sadly, yet fortunately, I didn’t have the means to go, so I perused the list of destinations UCO was offering through Erasmus, and Armenia caught my eye. Unfortunately, I only recognized this country because of the Armenian Genocide, about which I had been taught so little, and, of course, our dear Charles Aznavour. That same week, the media club of which I am a member asked me to cover a news item I had completely missed: the dissolution of Nagorno-Karabakh. I dove into this issue, its history, and its potential impact on the future of the South Caucasus. This led me to books, podcasts, and videos about Armenia — I could not stop researching the country. I felt like I had finally uncovered the subject I was passionate about: Armenia.
I want to become a researcher and devote my future career to analyzing the geopolitical and security dynamics of Armenia. To do so, I chose to take the natural next step to experience the country myself, meet Armenians, discover their culture, and learn about their lives, vision, and hopes. So, I applied to AUA. I was in class when I found out I had been selected, but I could not resist letting out a cry of joy in front of my classmates. What’s more, attending AUA — an excellent university with eminent professors, many of whom have dedicated their research to Armenia — would help me not only gain more knowledge about Armenia, but also develop my English language skills.
Charles: Like Domitille and many French people, I knew very little about Armenia or even about this region more generally. Of course, I had studied the Armenian Genocide, and I, too, have always loved Aznavour’s music, like every Frenchman, but I knew very little about his people or their history. In fact, I gained greater interest in the region through the Chechen wars and the recent events in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Last year, when we were offered potential study abroad destinations for the Fall 2024 semester, many of the choices struck me as uninteresting. That is why the more “original” options, such as Armenia, immediately caught my eye. Given my great interest in geopolitics, it is fair to say that I immersed myself in a textbook case…Regarding AUA, I really think it is an engaging place to study due to the diversity of the students and teachers, and I do not regret my choice at all.
How did you choose to pursue studies in politics and governance?
Berge: The French presidential elections took place during my last year of high school. At that time, France was quite polarized, and I developed an interest in political news. I loved debating social issues, and since I did not have a clear professional path in mind, I chose to pursue a degree in political science, because it is a highly multidisciplinary field that would enable me to study economics, law, sociology, history, international relations, and more. This would leave many doors open and would allow me to make a considered career choice as I matured. As I near the end of my degree, I do not regret this choice at all, because it has offered me the opportunity to study a huge number of subjects and to finally identify a field that truly resonates with me: international relations. I now plan to pursue a master’s degree in this field.
Charles: I have simply always been curious, and I have always wanted to be a journalist. French political life has been pretty hectic in recent years, which has probably made it more interesting to me. In fact, I chose political science above all because it was a speciality I fell in love with in high school, thanks to an incredible teacher. So, I decided to pursue this path, not because of what awaited me at the end, but because I loved learning what I was being taught.
How does your experience at AUA compare to your academic experience in France?
Berge: My experience at AUA is very different from my experience in France. At UCO, there are over 100 students in a class, which generally lasts three hours. Here, there are less than 30 students per class and classes last no longer than an hour and a half. We have more work to do throughout the year at AUA, because in France, our year mainly revolves around the final exam, which counts for about 60% of our final grade. On this front, I prefer the American university system, because although there is constant low-level pressure, we avoid feeling like our entire semester hinges on a three-hour exam time slot and the fear of failing. I find that the French system is more exacting and therefore causes us much anxiety, which is not necessarily pleasant in the long term.
The American method also requires us to read a lot more, whereas in France, reading is mostly based on the student’s willingness and interest in the subject. Participation also plays a key role at AUA, whereas in France, it is mainly the teacher who does the talking, and students do not get involved much. Of course, this is just my opinion, but the content of French courses is much more dense, and we go into greater detail. I do not know which method I prefer. I think both have their advantages and disadvantages, but it is highly valuable to be able to study under a different system.
Charles: Well, Domitille said it all. The style of teaching here at AUA is very different. At UCO, I had many more classes, with lots of lectures and not as many interactive classes like I do here. Obviously, the interactive classes are one of the things I greatly enjoy about my studies at AUA, especially as they prompt me to question certain ideas that I have not had the opportunity to challenge in France.
What are some challenges you have faced in Armenia?
Berge: First of all, I obviously experienced great culture shock, but that was for the best. I needed to get out of my comfort zone, challenge my assumptions, and prove to myself that I am capable of doing something totally off the beaten track. One of the first difficulties I encountered was the language barrier. Outside AUA, many Armenians do not speak English, so it was hard to make friends, especially in my dormitory, or to receive service at places like cafes or restaurants. There was also the challenge of avoiding passing judgment on certain points. An example that comes to mind is pollution and the use of plastic. Outside the city center, people throw a lot of their garbage in ditches and on sidewalks, and because ecological awareness is omnipresent in France, seeing the complete opposite here was a bit shocking at first.
Aside from those initial challenges, my experience in Armenia has been, above all, filled with wonderful encounters, incredible memories, and memorable adventures discovering the beauty of this country and its culture. I would never reduce Armenia to those aforementioned difficulties, which are only exceptions. These challenges even prompted me to learn Armenian, and now, the cashier at my nearby grocery store, who knows I am French, always asks me how I am doing in Armenian, and we try to have a short conversation. When I see the smiles on the faces of the people around me, who are pleased that I am trying to speak their language, it motivates me even more to continue learning Armenian.
Charles: Aside from finding an apartment, I am happy to say that I have not faced any major challenges in Armenia. I am used to traveling alone, and I love arriving in a new, unfamiliar place — it’s even more exciting when you don’t know the language, which leads to interesting “improvised sign language” discussions. I must admit that Armenians are very welcoming to French people. I think the biggest challenge will be the cold this winter; maybe I will miss France and its gentle winters.
What are some highlights from your time in Armenia and at AUA?
Berge: Armenia is a magnificent country with landscapes as impressive as they are soothing. I have loved Dilijan, Garni, the Symphony of Stones, Lake Sevan — in short, contemplating the beauty of this country gives me great joy. Through our excursions, I have had the opportunity to join a workshop on lavash, which I thoroughly enjoyed, especially as it is a key element in Armenian gastronomy and its preparation part of local tradition.
I am inspired by all the people I have encountered, especially those at AUA. My friends here have backgrounds that are so different from those of my friends in France. Here, people get married very young, so having married friends is not unusual. People are very friendly, whereas in France, friendships typically take longer to form. I am astonished by the kindness of the majority of Armenians. If there is one thing I have taken away from this experience, it’s that if you need help in Armenia, you just have to ask. In the beginning, I had no cash, but friends did not hesitate to pay for my cab and bus fare, to accompany me home, and so on.
Finally, another highlight has been attending the Apostolic liturgy. I am a Catholic, and Apostolic services are so different from Catholic ones, but they are a meaningful experience, because we are all Christians who just belong to different branches. To be able to experience the liturgy with caring people who want to help me discover this rite full of tradition has been very interesting.
Charles: Like Domitille, I love the Armenian countryside. I went on a magnificent hike in the Lori region, where I was shocked by the contrast between the flat land below Mount Ararat that I see every day and the mountains in the north of the country. It also has to be said that autumn suits Armenia very well.
Apart from that, I have obviously loved walking around the center of Yerevan, from top to bottom. The atmosphere is really pleasant, as people are eager to help tourists, and there are some beautiful monuments. In particular, I love visiting the Blue Mosque, even if it is not the most representative of Armenia; the calm in the courtyard is incredible.
What advice would you give to other exchange students at AUA?
Berge: My academic advice is to not hesitate to attend professors’ office hours; participate during class, even if you are not used to doing so; and complete all assigned readings — although I am not blameless on this front, as I sometimes do not have the time to complete all the readings myself.
My general advice is to not be afraid to go out and meet people, because most are very friendly. Do not hesitate to get out of Yerevan, because there are so many wonderful places to discover. This country, with its rich nature, mountains, monasteries, and lakes, never fails to put a smile on my face. Yerevan is a very pretty and special city, whose architecture, in my opinion, bears witness to Armenia’s Soviet past. However, to understand the soul of this country in all its magnificence, you need to get out of the capital.
Charles: I would tell other exchange students that, naturally, studying abroad is a unique experience, especially in Armenia, so have fun and don’t take things too seriously. Use this time to experience new things, most importantly outside of AUA.
What are your goals for the rest of your time at AUA?
Berge: For the rest of this semester, I obviously want to pass. Of course, my primary goal is to visit as many places as possible and meet many more great people — oh, and to finally bargain at Vernissage, because I am the worst negotiator on earth.
Charles: During the rest of my time at AUA, I actually want to pursue some personal projects and continue climbing. I was able to start this sport here in Armenia and fell in love with it, so if only for that reason alone, I am sure I will remember this semester for a long time.
