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Can you briefly introduce yourself?
My name is Louis Troiville and I’m in Year 3 of the Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management at Excelia Tourism School.
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Where and when did you go for your academic expatriation?
I went to Florence, Italy, for 6 months in the second semester of Year 2 of the programme.
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Can you tell us a bit about your experience?
I found a flat in the very heart of the city of Florence, sharing with 5 other international students... and I enrolled on 4 courses, all of them in Italian. In short, my expatriation was a great success. The majority of my lessons were held remotely, but this didn’t stop me from enjoying them. I met some really lovely people, discovered some beautiful places and came away with lots of wonderful memories. I would definitely go back there, without any hesitation at all.
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What was the biggest challenge of your expatriation?
The first week, or rather the first few days, is probably the most difficult part. Then, you slowly start to understand the culture, learn the basics of the language, and get your bearings. I think these are the most challenging aspects. Once you’ve left your comfort zone, you can’t go back! You simply have to adapt as best you can.
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Is there a difference between learning in France and learning at the university you went to?
In France, it’s common for students to have continuous assessment in the form of orals, in addition to end-of-semester written exams. At the Italian partner university, individual and/or group work was optional. But those who decided to do this work were awarded extra points towards their final exams.
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What do you think of international experiences?
I think there are only positive points. It’s an incredible opportunity to be able to discover a whole new culture. Such experiences not only give you the opportunity to learn about different ways of living but also about different ways of working.
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Why did you choose to study at Excelia Tourism School?
Actually, I already knew a lot about Excelia as my sister had studied there, and everything she told me about it simply vindicated my decision. I was looking for a tourism school, which was not too far from the sea and, above all, which offered a university exchange programme.
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What are your plans after your Bachelor?
I am going to focus on my career.
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What are your career plans?
I would love to be an airline steward… to travel the world and discover new places. I would like to learn more about other cultures and add the ‘French Touch’ to my work. ‘Journeys’ are definitely what tourism is all about!
