Wednesday, October 6, 2010
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Page 15
Campus Spotlight
photo courtesy of Laurelle Gonzalez
French and Spanish student Laurelle Gonzalez enjoys sightseeing in Angers, France. She said she hopes to visit at least six more countries.
UNCA student expands her horizons with international travels Alyssa Spencer afspence@unca.edu managing editor
UNC Asheville student Laurelle Gonzalez doesn’t mind substituting her favorite local 2 percent strawberry vanilla yogurt for crepes and croissants for breakfast. Gonzalez, a senior French and Spanish student, is finishing her collegiate career in Angers, France. A native Spanish speaker, she began studying French in high school and said she wanted to travel to better understand the language and culture. “Becoming acquainted with the French way of life has definitely been helpful in gaining a better grasp of the language and naturally adding to my vocabulary,” Gonzalez said. “I think it’s really useful to get a feel for authentic French conversations versus sticking with just what we are taught in our courses, and I’ve really enjoyed witnessing the French perspective on their own culture, which I’ve observed as a mix of fierce pride and self-deprecating humor.” Gonzalez lives in a large 19th century house specifically rented out to exchange students. Currently, four other girls from around the globe reside with her. Their native countries include Germany, Canada and China. “It’s actually the perfect housing situation for me, as I was hoping for something that would allow me more independence. I’m free to come and go as I please,” Gonzalez said.
“I’ve really enjoyed witnessing the French perspective on their own culture, which I’ve observed as a mix of fierce pride and self-deprecating humor.”
– Laurelle Gonzalez UNCA French and Spanish student Living a 15-minute walking distance away from her university and just one minute away from a train station, Gonzalez said she is constantly seizing opportunities to experience European culture. She has taken to reading comic books, which she said are very popular in France, and has adapted to a different way of eating. “I was a vegetarian before I arrived here, but I decided to begin eating meat again during my stay in France to fully appreciate the French cuisine, and also because there is not such a large array of vegetarian products here,” Gonzalez said. “The variety of products offered here is smaller, but the variety of cheeses is without comparison and everything is very fresh.” Gonzalez spends her leisure time stroll-
ing through the streets of Angers and visiting used bookstores, bakeries and festivals put on by the city. “A recent festival, ‘les accroche coeurs,’ had artists and musicians from all over the country take up shop in the city for the weekend, performing a variety of spectacles completely free, night and day,” the 22-year-old said. Gonzalez said she is impressed by how willing people have been to help her. “I was actually very surprised by how friendly people have been with me, even after learning I was American, even switching to English to speak with me if they sensed that I was more comfortable with it,” she said. “People, often strangers, are quick to lend a hand.” Getting from place to place is easy, ac-
cording to Gonzalez, who said she enjoys the pedestrian-friendly streets and feels safer using French bus and railway systems than transportation services in Asheville. Gonzalez said one challenge she faces is navigating the city during French business hours, which are notably different from what she is used to in the United States. “Banks and many other businesses close for a two-hour lunch every day, and pretty much everything is closed on Sundays,” Gonzalez said. “You just have to learn to plan ahead, though, and I find exploring the city on a quiet, lazy Sunday to be a completely different and enjoyable experience apart from the rest of the week.” Gonzalez said she plans to stay in Europe an extra two weeks after finishing her final exams in mid-January to travel. She also has a list of six countries she is excited to explore, including Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain and Portugal. “I’m really eager to take advantage of the cheap train and airfare and visit as much of Europe as possible while I’m studying here, and I’m constantly adding cities to my ‘must-see’ list,” she said. According to Gonzalez, studying in France has not been a huge culture shock. “It’s mostly been just a conglomerate of many small differences from American culture,” she said. “There is an increased emphasis on local commerce, less of a dependence on technology, a greater accessibility of alternative means of transportation and more of an emphasis on cultural inheritance.”