In May 2026, a dozen of students from Pellissippi State Community College, Knoxville, Tennessee spent 10 days in Cherbourg. Organised within a sport exchange between the French and the American universities, this meeting is the result of a 4-year-long partnership – and an intercultural experience like no other.
The exchange with Pellissippi State Community College is a lasting story. For a few years, students from Normandy and Tennessee meet twice a year: first at the root of the Appalachian Mountains, then on the Cotentin coast. Early May, students from ESIX Normandie and IUT Grand Ouest Normandie traveled to Knoxville. Freewater rafting, golf, baseball, visit of Nashville and the College campuses – no time to lose in Tennessee! From May 14 to 23, Cherbourg returned the favour.
Discovering a French university, a meeting room and a tapestry
To test the waters, what’s better than a discussion with the persons involved in the exchange programme at the University of Caen Normandie :
- Eric Leroy du Cardonnoy, vice-president for International Development
- Mathilde Lechevrel, head of Sports and Health missions
- Olivier Thénaisy, director of the SUAPS
- Olivier Gosselin, teacher at the SUAPS Cherbourg
Through the discussion, the UNICAEN representatives introduced the university, its history, the organisation of the various campuses and the foreign languages programmes. The American students were especially interested in the international attractivity of the university. They were also thrilled by the Henry Bernard meeting room with its historical tapestry, a monument to an academic decorum very different than that of the American campuses.
“Thank you for participating to this sport and cultural programme, made for students by students. Sport is a factor of both cultural integration and exchange.” – Eric Leroy du Cardonnoy, on the unique nature of this project
“Thank you for supporting the programme: I have been involved for four years, and it’s always a pleasure to work with the University of Caen Normandie. It has become truly family.” – a US teacher testifies.
Ocean, cliffs, and fresh food
The spirit of the programme is clearly joyful: in Tennessee, the French students discovered moutain and river sports; in Normandy, the American students tested sea sports. Surf at Siouville, sand-sailing and catamaran at Urville-Nacqueville, diving, kayak, stand-up paddle… Compared to Tennessee, a landlocked State in the middle of the North American subcontinent, Cotentin has a lot of water activities in store! Sailing especially made a lasting impression!
Cultural visits completed the tour: Mont Saint-Michel, Cité de la Mer, Tatihou island, fort du Roule, Airborne museum at Sainte-Mère-Église, Caen Memorial Museum, Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc. These evocative places for any American added a surprising but welcome historical touch to a sport exchange programme.
The Americans’ favourites…
When packing their bags, the Knoxville students brought a lot of souvenirs. What did they like the most? Coast and water activities they don’t have back home, first and foremost, as well as well food, “fresh food”, unlike processed food in the US. They were also thrilled with how welcoming France is: “everybody is very friendly with each other”. Host families, in particular, “did a goob job giving us the whole French living experience” and helped them learn “casual French”, more authentic than what they learn in class. Last but not least, they also enjoyed our way of life: “walkable cities”, “healthy food and energy conservation”, that seemed much more sustainable that in the United States.
Funded by the SUAPS, the CVEC, Normandie Université and the city of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, the exchange programme was celebrated in the cityhall of Cherbourg and the governance of the University. After several years of success, this institutional support awards a project that starts to look like a tradition.
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