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AFAM: Hello, Bailey. Thank you for agreeing to answer our questions. Please tell us a few words about yourself.
Bailey:
Howdy, my name is Bailey Sizemore, and I am a Mechanical Engineering Senior at Texas A&M University. I enjoy running, reading, and traveling.
AFAM: could you please let us know about how you first heard about Arts et Metiers and the program on the Aix campus?
Bailey:
I first heard about this program through my friend Jensen McMurray, who also went on the trip. I have always wanted to do a semester exchange, and this program is unique because the credits transfer directly to count towards my degree.
AFAM: in a few words, if you may, how would you describe the difference between your studies at Texas A&M and in Arts et Metiers ( subjects, teaching style, your classmates etc)?
Bailey:
The studies at Texas A & M are more theory-based, while at Arts et Metier, the school is more hands-on with lab work. I enjoy this type of schoolwork more because I am a hands-on learner, so learning how to weld and cast is a skill I will have for the rest of my life. I believe I met friends similar to mine at home, which was awesome to know that I can meet people like me in different ways all over the world. Students in France are better equipped to the world around them because all students must study abroad, while in America, it is not a requirement.
AFAM: when speaking about studying/working in a different country, people would speak about culture shock. Any examples of a culture shock experience that you had in France?
Bailey:
Everyone in France is aware of the nutrition and environment around them, while we do not pay attention in America. The bread and market food are exceptionally fresh. Not having a car for 5 months was also a challenge because I couldn’t ever just hop in my car.
AFAM: what did you like the most about your French experience?
Bailey:
The friends we made and the people we met were the best part. They made the exchange so much more enjoyable—and, of course, wine, baguettes, and cheese.
AFAM: what was the most challenging part of your French experience?
Bailey:
Definitely, my ability to speak French I learned after going, so reading signs, shopping in stores, and ordering food was challenging at the beginning. I also did miss my family, and it was hard to miss important events at home, but I was able to Facetime in!
AFAM: anything about your future plans that you would like to share with us?
Bailey:
I am currently looking to get my Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering.I am working on a patent for Biomedical Devices. I now want travel to be a piority, so I am always looking for the next adventure. Also, I plan to return to Aix in January to see my friends.
AFAM: any piece of advice you would give to American students willing to study at Arts et Metiers graduate engineering school?
Bailey:
My most significant piece of advice would be to embrace it all simply. Embrace the unknown, be open-minded, and . Everyone is very nice and helpful, which was a big reason why my exchange was so enjoyable.
AFAM: thank you, Bailey and have a wonderful day!
St Victoire mountain near Aix-en-Provence
At the café in Aix
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AFAM participated in the International Week organized by the school on December 15th. We would like to thank the school and in particular Daniela Stelmaszyc, Head of European and International Development/Erasmus, for giving us the opportunity to meet students online during the International Week.
Merwan Benhabib (Ch 203) and Albina Patou-Chebykina represented AFAM during the meeting. They explained to A&M students participating in the conference what kind of activities and programs AFAM is having. There were around 20 students-participants.
We hope to see some of them on our lists of Shasta, Sequoia and Yosemite candidates as we invite our students to join our programs.
We wish you all Happy Holidays and looking forward to hearing from you soon!
Daniela and Albina during the conference
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On November 29th Aurore Prevot met Lille-based students to present American Friends of Arts et Metiers, its programs and activities.
The meeting took place in the student residence and a lot of students could come, listen to Aurore and ask questions.
Thank you very much to SOCE and Lille BREI for organizing this event!
AFAM is glad to be able to meet students every year on different campuses to promote AFAM's programs.
The next AFAM event will take place on December 15th, 6:30 pm (Paris time). It is going to be an online event in the framework of International Week organized by the school every year in winter and in spring. Please contact your BREI to sign up and to receive a teams link to participate.
Please join us to know more about AFAM! See you there!
on the pictures: Students in Lille
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Our community relies on our team, regional groups, students and alumni. We have several gadz groups all over the United States.
In California there are two active groups: one with its center in San Francisco and another one - in Southern California.
At the beginning of December our two groups organized two events:
1) gadz gathering in SF, in a Zeitgeist bar - to meet alumni and also to get to know our news students who are currently studying in UC Berkeley
2) a very small gathering of Southern California-based gadz'arts in a cosy coast waterfront restaurant ( please see the picture below)
We wish all our groups and our community a very nice and productive 2024 and a lot of news gatherings and events in the future!
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Please meet GT Europe students Fanny Barroso-Roca (Me 221), Rémy Grandgeorges (Me 221), Louis Despruniée (An 221). They started their semester in Georgia Tech Europe on Aug 21, 2023 and will continue studying at Georgia Tech Atlanta in 2024. In between those two semesters in Metz and Atlanta, students will need to follow an internship.
AFAM: Hello! Please tell us a few words about yourselves.
Fanny: We are all enrolled in our last year at Arts et Metiers on Metz campus, and we are having classes on Georgia Tech Europe campus to get a dual diploma A&M-GT.
Rémy:
I've always had a passion for industry, particularly mechanics and aeronautics. As I wasn't able to specialize in these fields at Arts-et-Métiers, I decided to do a double degree with GeorgiaTech. GeorgiaTech is an opportunity for me to study at an international, recognized university, specializing in the fields I love.
Louis:
I integrated Arts et Métiers after my DUT (two-year post-secondary technical diploma) in mechanical engineering. I love mechanics and that’s why I chose to pursue my studies in this field. Since I have been at the Arts et Métiers, I knew that I wanted to join the double-degree program. It's an opportunity to obtain an internationally recognized diploma, especially in the United States.
AFAM: What's your weekly schedule with two schools right now?
Louis: In Georgia Tech I am having 1 math class on Mondays and Wednesdays, and the 3 other mechanical engineering classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays (each class is twice a week).
On Fridays, we don't have classes at GeorgiaTech, but usually we have classes all day long at Arts et Métiers.
Fanny and Rémy: we have four classes at Georgia Tech and two classes at Arts et Metiers. At GT Europe we are taking acoustics, wind engineering, and fundamental fracture mechanics.
And our favorite is wind engineering.
AFAM: Why do you like wind engineering?
Fanny: It is a project-based class. You can see a financial aspect, installation, energy production. I have chosen Costa Rica as a place to study. This class is all about your choices and your decisions and what you are going to do as an engineer.
Rémy: Wind engineering is a subject I chose because I found it extremely interesting and had never studied it before. The aim of this course is to carry out a project to implement a wind turbine in a chosen location. In other words, to choose the location (I chose Denmark in particular because of its European involvement in the development of this technology), to dimension the wind turbine, to simulate power and energy production, to draw up a provisional budget for the installation and finally to study the environmental impact (noise, birds, etc.).
So, it's a very exciting course and I recommend it 100%.
AFAM: And what about you, Louis? Is wind engineering your favorite class too?
Louis: Actually, I am not taking this class, I am taking a mathematical method for applied sciences. And my favorite class is Principles of Continuum Mechanics because mechanics is the subject that I have preferred since the beginning at the University. This year we started from very basic principles of mechanics and physics and can observe some demonstrations involving much more complexity. To fully understand formulas instead of just learning them - that’s what I love about this class.
AFAM: do you feel your schedule and workload is much more intense than it would be with just at Arts et Metiers?
Rémy: At GTE, we have far fewer lessons (only 4 lessons a week, so 2 hours a day), whereas at Arts-et-Métiers we had around 7 hours a day. So, the timetable is lighter, but there's a lot more work to do at home, so I think that makes up for it. The courses are much more interesting, so I learn a lot about very specific subjects, how to write reports, do calculations and think more generally in English.
Louis: Yes, I feel that the workload is intense. The most disturbing thing is that most French students who did not come from Arts et Métiers have the same hourly workload as us at Georgia Tech, but without having additional courses in their home institution. I found the beginning of the year very challenging in terms of workload. I am not used to having only lectures without direct studies. When you come from the French system, it is extremely disconcerting.
AFAM: do you interact with American students while on GT Europe campus? Any projects, activities you are doing together in school or outside of the school?
Louis: I haven't had many interactions with Americans beyond informal exchanges during outings organized by the school. It's worth noting that at Georgia Tech Europe, Americans, especially at the master's level, are in the minority. We have many French, students from the Maghreb, two or three Italians and Spaniards, some Indians, and I'm probably forgetting others.
Rémy: It's quite complicated to collaborate with the Americans on work because we stay pretty much with the Arts-et-Métiers group, due to the fact that we're in the Arts residence (not the same as the Americans) so it's easier to work as a group. However, the events organized by GTE allow us to exchange and mix (speed-dating, organized meals, events and parties...)
AFAM: you are going to Atlanta in August 2024 for your semester in GT Atlanta. What are the things you would like to do/see/visit, classes you are willing to take? Is there anything you would like to share with us?
Louis: Depending on the workload, I hope to have the time to explore Georgia a bit, but I haven't thought about that aspect yet. Regarding courses, I may pursue minors, particularly in a specific subject: legal issues in technological transfer.
Rémy: I'm really looking forward to going to the United States, mainly for the culture of the country, being able to visit cities, go on road trips, have great parties... The few courses we'll have in Atlanta will really allow us to take advantage of American student life. I plan to specialize in aeronautics, which is really my passion, and GeorgiaTech has a good reputation in this field for offering high-quality, recognized training. It's still difficult for me to decide which courses to take now, as it will depend mainly on my end-of-study internship.
I'm really looking forward to discovering American culture and student life.
AFAM: thank you very much! And good luck in your future endeavors! See you in Atlanta!
AFAM community manager in Metz with Fanny and Rémy
Louis, Fanny and Rémy in Metz lab
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