Folks, I come from a country where – in the words of Mies van der Rohe – “less is more.” It’s a country where less food on your plate means that you’re in a gastronomic restaurant; where living in a tiny apartment means that you are in a fancy neighborhood; and where people find it acceptable to pay 1.5€ (basically $2) for an ounce of coffee in a bar.

Yes, I come from France. And I have finally escaped.

Anyhow, being used to “small,” “short,” “tiny,” “minuscule,” etc., you can only imagine my surprise when arriving at Truax campus to visit the place where I will be studying for the next two years.

I don’t know how big the former campus was and I know it has recently been re-done, but  I have studied abroad in North America in the past, and even my four-year college wasn’t this massive. This place looks like a French university on steroids. Seriously.

I can’t say if it’s just me, or if my fellow international students will find the whole place as impressive as I do. I would definitely be curious to know their opinion about the subject.  More importantly; however, I think it is important for you to realize how lucky you are. You probably already do, but if you don’t, you definitely should.

I have had the chance to study in different Western countries and I have sat in dingy classes with more dried chewing gum than wood on tables. I remember my first day at Université Paris 8, where half the students in my program had to take notes from the hall because there were so few chairs in the classroom. I get the feeling that this does not happen often around here.

So yes, you probably don’t know it, but you folks have gotten the extra-large meal without even asking for it.
You have the luxury of space and I truly hope that you can see how precious that is. If not,  I’ll be glad to take your share. Mies van der Rohe and France can keep their hobbit-sized espressos and microscopic fine cuisine. I’ll have the supersized menu, thank you very much.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Raefal is an international student from France who will write a column for The Clarion this semester.