French Student Finds Way to EMCC

SCOOBA – Things move slow in the South, but Mississippi life is still a little overwhelming for one East Mississippi Community College student.

Pauline Pimolle, a freshman at EMCC, hails from Marseille in the south of France. She recently enrolled at the Scooba campus to be closer to her American boyfriend, whom she met online via a shared interest in art. She’s visited “The States” briefly a couple of times, but has only lived here a few weeks. And she’s still trying to take it all in.

“I always wanted to study in the United States, but I didn’t know which state specifically because you have so many,” she said.

“Even though France is its own country, it’s like Mississippi has as much history as France.”

Pimolle is documenting her experience through pictures for her family and friends back in France, sharing them through Facebook and email. Both she and her family marvel at how Mississippi seems enclosed on all sides by forest.

“Nature is inspiring here because everything looks huge. The trees are so tall, it’s like you don’t have limits because all you can see is trees. Even on the roads,” she said.

Pimolle estimates she’s already taken more than 1,000 pictures during her short time in Scooba. She eventually hopes to study art and photography at Mississippi State University, but just like American students, she wanted a less intimidating transition into college. She considered Meridian and Hinds community colleges, but chose EMCC.

“I wanted a small campus where people can help me at my level. When you go to a university you have to be more independent and rely on your own skills,” she said.

Although Pimolle completed two years of college in France, she said French universities place almost all emphasis on courses which pertain directly to a student’s chosen major. As an art history and archaeology student, she was exposed to some math, but not college algebra. And there was no French composition counterpart to English composition in the states.

“In France, when you have your high school diploma, it means you have the skills to write an essay,” she said.

Pimolle also chose EMCC based on conversations with art instructors Terry Cherry and Lisa Spinks. And the instructors are just as excited to work with Pimolle.

“I talked with Pauline some and believe that she will bring an international perspective to our discussions in class. This will give the other students a great insight into the way someone from another country perceives art. And Pauline will benefit as well hearing our ideas,” said Cherry.

“I fell in love with her enthusiasm right away,” added Spinks.

“She showed me her portfolio that first day and I was blown away by her photographs.”

Pimolle said EMCC is also living up to another widely held stereotype about the American South, and she loves it.

“It’s a cliché, but I think people are really welcoming here. Even in the airport in Atlanta, I didn’t even ask for help. It’s like people are coming to you asking if you need some help. And you’re like, ‘What’s going on?’ People do that without receiving something back and it’s natural behavior here,” she said.