Humans of East: Isaline Chapuzet: Q&A with a foreign exchange student from France

Senior Isaline Chapuzet is an exchange student from Bertric-Burée, France. She has imagined studying abroad in the U.S. since she was 10 years old. Chapuzet Talks about what it’s like to come from a grade of 200 to 400 in her 10 month stay.

 What are the main differences between America and France?

“The people here are really nice. You talk with everyone. You go on a walk and someone says ‘hello.’ We also have a longer lunch in France, it’s an hour and thirty minutes.”

How is school different in France compared to the United States?

“Here, teachers will talk with students. In France, teachers just tell you to do the work and that’s it. You also have more classes here. In France, we have French, mathematics, and science — we just have three. Also, [in France] we have the same students in the same class every time. There are always the same people.”

Why did you want to be a part of the foreign exchange program?

“It started when I was watching movies on the TV and then I talked to my mother about wanting to study, and then I thought long and hard about this decision because it’s something important to leave your family at 16 and to live 7,000 km away.”

Is this experience very different from France because you don’t have school sports to participate in?

“Football games are very fun here. I love it. It’s more fun and every student participates in that. In France it’s very different, you go to school for learn.”

Have you had any food here that’s different from france?

“Yes, your food is so big, you don’t really have vegetables. It’s good but sometimes I miss French food. I’ve tried Wendy’s, I need to try Chick-fil-a. Everyone has asked me if I have tried it.”

What was your favorite subject in France and what is it here?

“Language, Spanish and English. I was really strong in this subject [languages], but here maybe marketing principles. I don’t know, every class is fun, maybe dark room photography. 

What did you expect from moving to Kansas, did you get to pick where you stayed?

“No. My host family chose me. I knew that Kansas City existed, but I don’t really know where it was.” 

“How has your liking for rugby in France carried over to watching football in America?”

“It’s fun, I like participating in the student section and I enjoy the pep clubs participation. I would like to learn more rules [about football].”