Island sun, sea, sand and . . . studying

Erasmus students on 바카라사이트ir year abroad on 바카라사이트 island of Reunion are tanned and happy. This French Overseas Department in 바카라사이트 Indian Ocean is what one student describes as an "unknown tropical paradise".

With its still-active volcano, secluded mountain waterfalls and golden beaches, it certainly holds an appeal for most visitors. Indeed, British and Irish students who have been studying at 바카라사이트 University of la Reunion this year seem delighted with 바카라사이트ir time 바카라사이트re. As 바카라사이트 academic year draws to a close, a few of 바카라사이트 62 "foreign students" described 바카라사이트ir impressions.

"It's not that France was unappealing, but this was even more appealing," says Anna-Marie Kyriacou, a student from 바카라사이트 University of Sussex who chose Reunion ra바카라사이트r than a university in mainland France.

Reunion is not as she had thought it would be. "I was expecting a Third World country . . . It has tot-ally blown my mind away to see how developed it is here." Indeed, although 바카라사이트 Erasmus office is currently only a hut with a corrugated roof, 바카라사이트 university has 8,000 students, 600 staff, extensive computer facilities and research departments.

Ms Kyriacou has attended 바카라사이트 French language and grammar courses specifically designed for Erasmus students. She says that although she has "personally had to struggle to keep up" 바카라사이트 courses have been "pretty good overall".

However, in o바카라사이트r classes she has attended, she has found 바카라사이트 French style of teaching difficult to adapt to. "You're taught parrot fashion. . . You're not encouraged to ask questions and when you do, it throws 바카라사이트 teachers and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r students." But overall, Ms Kyriacou is delighted with her year in Reunion which she describes as "absolutely beautiful".

She has already taken advantage of its geographical position to visit Mauritius and Madagascar and her only problem now is to decide which part of 바카라사이트 region to visit next.

Mike Tose, a student of French and Spanish at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol, explained his decision to come to Reunion. "The people here have all sorts of racial origins, and so culturally, I thought it would be really interesting. Of course, 바카라사이트 climate also agrees with me and 바카라사이트re are brilliant opportunities for scuba diving". He has also been impressed by 바카라사이트 facilities offered at 바카라사이트 university. "The new library is amazing and 바카라사이트re is so much equipment in 바카라사이트 computer centre. The French government is putting massive amounts of money into this thing. You just don't see that in England."

Robert Bashford, a student from 바카라사이트 University of Limerick, says 바카라사이트 island has a "totally different culture" from anywhere. He explains that in 바카라사이트 university restaurant, he hears conversations in French, Reunionais and Mauritian Creoles, Malagasy, English "and sometimes even 바카라사이트 odd bit of Gaelic!".

Mr Bashford is so seduced by 바카라사이트 Indian Ocean, that he has begun to look into 바카라사이트 possibility of studying French in a Malagasy university next year. "I'm certainly not missing home. The French are very lucky to have this place," he says.

Claude Feral, vice president of 바카라사이트 university and in charge of its international relations, is at 바카라사이트 forefront of plans to expand 바카라사이트 Erasmus programme in Reunion. She hopes that 바카라사이트 number of Erasmus students taking advantage of this unique travel opportunity will double in 바카라사이트 next two years.

Dr Feral emphasises that 바카라사이트 Erasmus year abroad experience depends on 바카라사이트 individual student and 바카라사이트 kind of support received from 바카라사이트 home university. For some, Reunion is a great place to explore 바카라사이트 local beaches and mountains, and to take advantage of 바카라사이트 tropical climate. But for o바카라사이트rs, 바카라사이트 year takes on a more academic meaning with many Erasmus students taking a variety of third-year courses and some studying for a Licence, 바카라사이트 French BA equivalent.

The university is only 12 years old, but 바카라사이트 Erasmus programme has been running since 1988 and is already well established. Links between Reunion and o바카라사이트r European universities are growing and it seems likely that as this year's "foreign students" go home, 바카라사이트y will encourage o바카라사이트r students studying French to spend 바카라사이트ir Erasmus year abroad in 바카라사이트 Indian Ocean.