Manon Mazuir: “I was very surprised by AUCA’s education system”

April 25, 2016

Manon Mazuir, an exchange student from Sciences Po in France, tells us about her exchange experience at American University of Central Asia (AUCA).

“I didn’t really choose to study at AUCA. It was more about the country at first. I wanted to discover something else, something completely different from what I was used to, and there was this partnership between AUCA and Sciences Po. I knew about AUCA thanks to a presentation at my university last year. I have been here since mid-august and will be here until early June.

At the beginning, I was very surprised by AUCA’s education system because it is completely different from my university. The writing assignments and the oral presentations are not the same at all. Here, we follow more the American system (with essays etc.). In France, we have a famous tradition of what we call “dissertation” (we follow a very precise and pre-defined structure and method). Personally, I prefer the French method which is more structured. Here, I like that the education is quite general for the first year. It allows students to get a strong foundation which is progressively developed into expertise in a precise field. I enjoy the university: we feel comfortable and the new campus is awesome. Everything is made to make us feel good and all the equipment is modern. I like the fact that students make a lot of effort to build a strong community spirit with a lot of animations and events.

For students from my university, I would definitely recommend the diversity of students you can find at AUCA; it makes for a big melting pot. But first, I would recommend they learn Russian beforehand. I didn’t speak Russian before coming here and it has been very hard for me to communicate.

My first day here was so hard. Communication issues, arriving in the dorm, cultural differences with France, all coalesced into a big shock. It took me a few weeks to adapt myself. I was completely depressed by the difficulty of communication. What I like the most about the university is the impression of well-being. You feel like you are home, and paradoxically, you hear so many languages around you. Concerning Kyrgyzstan, I really enjoy our little excursions in such beautiful landscapes with others students. There is a feeling of freedom when nothing surrounds you, when you are in the mountains and there is no sound. That is why I came here, I like places that are unpopulated and serene, places that are not yet modified by humans. I really enjoyed our trip to Song Kul Lake in August. We spent two nights in yurts. All the exchange students stayed with local people for the weekend. They were so hospitable.

After studying at AUCA, I will go back to France and do my Master’s in Paris in European Affairs. I really would like to thank my roommates, Mhrangiz, Nuraida and Umida, who have been there on both difficult and happy days, to Heeran and Elena (other exchange students) with whom I have shared my experience, and to Zukhra from the International Office who has helped me a lot, too.”

<< go to news list