Spring 2019

Jaime Ramos-Fresno State University, USA

                  I like the culture here; the people are very welcoming and friendly. The food is delicious. The fact that Armenia is an old country, it has a lot of history and there is a lot of stuff to learn, so the tours were very educational and I enjoyed them a lot, especially the part of eating afterward.

The academic part was much tougher than I expected, they were very challenging, especially the math, I showed love with mechanics, but it was very tough.

Honestly, the best part was the friends I made, and as I said the people are very welcoming here, and I will try to keep the friendship I made with them, hopefully forever, for the rest of my life. I have told them whenever they come to the US, they are more than welcome to call me, so we can meet and when I come here, I will make sure to call them as well.

There is one thing I would like to change in AUA. In my university in California, there are more extra-curricular activities, so I would suggest expanding the out-of-class activities that students can be part of. Also, I would like to mention that here the professors are more focused on, for example, they do more office hours and more group office hours. In the US, at least in my university that’s not the case, if you want to go and get more help, you should go by yourself to the professor.

There are very obvious cultural differences between Armenia and the US.  I would say, Armenia is much more conservative, but in AUA, the people are so open to talk and get to know one another, but the cultural differences are much more there. But it’s not bad. If you make a friendship with someone, it’s a true one. People here are very trustworthy, at least the people I have met so far.

 

 

Francisco Javier Merello-University of Cadiz, Spain

                  I would like to note that academically, I had a lot better experience here at AUA than in Spain. In four months, I learned more than in four years in Spain.

The life experience here was much different from the one in my country. The people here are very warm, friendly and they treat me very well.

I really liked the tour organized by the Study Abroad & International Student Office here. I liked all of them, but most of all I like Geghard and Khor Virap. I had a great view of Ararat.

The best thing about Armenia is people. They are unique and very warm.

There are a lot of differences between my university and AUA. Here the professors are more precise, strict, and helpful. Also, I have noticed many differences between Spain and Armenia. Here, people are more conservative. Both countries are warm but the way of communication is different.

 

 

 

Manon Deparis- SKEMA Business School, France

                  I am really glad to have this experience to spend a semester in Armenia and in AUA. I really had a great experience. I met beautiful people and really enjoyed my life in the city, also I enjoyed the courses here, the quality was really high, my fellows were really helpful and nice to me, so I really enjoyed that.

I think that Armenia is a country that is moving very fast and I think that AUA has been able to understand this transition and they encourage the students to make the Armenia of tomorrow.

The only thing that is different from my country is the conservatism that Armenia has that is a bit different from my culture but it has also good sides. Armenians really value their history, culture and families, and their nationality. It’s really important.

Traveling in the country was really wonderful. I managed to visit a lot of different places. I enjoyed the countryside and villages. I saw a culture that is so different from mine. I discovered a lot of things about myself. I think I grow up during these travels. I wish I would be able to come back to Armenia.