There are about 90 foreign students studying on bachelor and master’s degree program in Ecole du Louvre (Louvre School), which represents 5.6 percent of all the students. It is mostly young people who come from the EU: Germans, Dutch, Italians, and Spaniards. There are not that many students coming from Eastern Europe, as well as from Asia, South America, and Africa. However, this does not mean that the way here is closed for them. The reason for this is rather that the School is not so well-known in their home countries or art education in those countries is not as popular as in the countries bordering with France. Therefore, students from outside the European Union mostly choose other Paris universities.
Upon my arrival to the EDL (Ecole du Louvre) I, like other non-French newcomers, was assisted by le Club International (International Club). A few days after the official registration I received a message from the management of the Club. The letter contained a welcoming part, greetings on the admission, and wishes for success in learning and research. There was also an offer to become a “godchild” of some of the local students. Meanwhile, French students received letters with invitation to become a guardian for a foreign student. The letters point out the significant benefits for both parties. For us, potential “godchildren,” it is an opportunity to receive all the answers concerning the things in the beginning of an academic year without having to pester secretariat and other offices. It is also a great opportunity to practice French with someone who gave voluntary consent to listen to our, often not fully correct, tirades; also a great chance to learn more about the life of the School from the inside and the daily lives of local students (this is usually not mentioned in official booklets). Finally, perhaps, the most important of it all is a chance to find yourself your first friend in unknown environment. And it is worth a lot, given that the EDL community is pretty closed and its representatives do not usually rush with open arms towards newcomers.
Potential guardians have their benefits. Each student on bachelor’s or master’s degree program has to master one of the living languages (in addition to Latin or Greek, which is often chosen by the students here). Thus, practicing the language of your choice with the native speaker is one of the significant bonuses. It is good that there is a wide choice. The most common languages learnt in the School are English and German. Therefore, German students are in great demand. The same is with English speaking students. My “maraine” (god mother) is a serious girl named Laurie came to the International Club saying that she was interested in Slavic culture, without specifying the language. While three girls from Russia and a girl from Poland, who, just like me, came to the School this year, did not express a desire to have a guardian, Laurie got me as her protege. So far both of us are satisfied with the way things go – thanks to the International Club.
Among the benefits that both guardians and their proteges enjoy are free tours and invitations to joint parties. This year the first event of such kind was a trip to the Chateau de Chantilly which was donated to the Institute of France in 1884 by the Prince of Orleans, son of the last king of France Louis-Philippe. Today, as in the late 19th century, there is a unique collection of paintings (including artworks of Raphael, Nicolas Poussin, and Jean-Auguste Ingres) stored in here. The collection, according to the will of the last owner, cannot be moved from the castle. Needless to say, visiting such places for free and in a good company is a great gift for an art critic, regardless of whether you go there with a French person or someone else.
The Day’s FACT FILE
Olha KUROVETS is a student of the second year on a research master’s program at Ecole du Louvre (Louvre School), Paris. Her training at the legendary university has just started. Before this the young lady studied Museum Management at the University of Neuchatel, Switzerland and prior to this she graduated from the National University Kyiv Mohyla Academy. Kurovets writes about her studies abroad and about European education in general, as well as about everyday life of a Ukrainian student in Paris.
