In this post, Midshipmen 1st Class Jeffrey Pearson and
Michael Tesluk write about their experiences studying abroad in France last
semester.
When you hear that two Americans are going to spend a
semester in a French military environment, immediately there are many
stereotypes of both cultures that come to mind. Determined to keep an open mind
and learn about our naval allies across the Atlantic, we traveled to Brittany,
France, to see what the French are all about.
Leaving behind the USNA brigade of 4,500 midshipmen we met
the roughly 200 French aspirants – or officers-in-training – with whom we would
participate in academics, physical fitness, and professional development.
We soon found that the smaller class size lent itself to a strong sense of camaraderie and unit identity. After four months at “La Baille” – the equivalent of calling USNA “The Yard – we appreciated learning about the culture, improving language skills, and becoming a part of this tight-knit group of future naval officers.
We wore many hats during our time in France. During the day we
were students in classes ranging from geopolitics to computer science. Some
afternoons we were sailors and participated in sailboat, zodiac, or yard patrol
craft exercises. A few times we played the role of French commandos during
amphibious assault training evolutions. One week we were diplomats as we
represented USNA at a large leadership conference for service academies in
Paris.
Many times we donned the camera and backpack of a tourist
and visited many different parts of France and numerous unique neighborhoods in
Paris. But most culturally enriching were the times after the midshipman cover
came off and the relaxed weekends spent with our French counterparts began.
Social opportunities were abundant and afforded us the
opportunity to practice language skills and share culture. We learned that
eating bread at meals was not just a nutritional aspect, but a crucial
institution of the nation. Meals were always slow-paced and a time for
conversation and storytelling.
Often French midshipmen would host parties at their houses
off campus to celebrate birthdays or get together to watch a big rugby or
soccer match. Overall the fun times, the social dynamic, and even the humor
were very similar to that of midshipmen at USNA.
Understanding our French classmates was not just a challenge
of cultural differences, but also a practical challenge in language
comprehension. The first month or so was difficult for the American ear to
adjust to the quick blur of French.
Additionally, French naval students and officers use a vast
amount of jargon and slang terms that are definitely not taught in the French
curriculum in America. After a lot of exposure to varying accents, tempos, and
styles of speaking, we gradually became more comfortable in everyday conversation,
class lectures, and interacting with people in town.
Overall this Spring 2014 semester was an enjoyable and
educational experience for us. We made many rewarding personal and professional
relationships that will carry into our naval careers. We exchanged many uniform
items and sentimental mementos of the French and American cultures as souvenirs
of our experience. And, we look forward using what we learned last Spring in
working with our French naval allies in the future.
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