Thomas Gariel

Name: Thomas Gariel

Year: Fifth year French exchange student

Degree: BA in Advertising and Media

Relationship status: In a relationship

Activities involved with: Social chair of student’s guild at Grenoble School of Management

Ideal night out in Exeter: I don’t know all of the places in Exeter to go as I‘m an exchange student but I don’t really like clubs. I like parties in a flat with friends. An ideal night out would be in with friends, drinking, playing music, talking, and smoking cigarettes (laughs).

What do you look for in a girl? Well looks play an important role for me. It’s important that she takes care of herself and tries to stay fit and well put together. A girl who is optimistic and generally a happy person attracts me. When she’s happy, it motivates me to be happy too. Girls who are very assertive and straightforward with me are very appealing, as they don’t beat around the bush. I like a girl to have a nice style. I don’t know, maybe it’s a French thing, but I like someone who can be elegant without being provocative.

What turns you off in a girl? A girl who doesn’t care about her appearance turns me off. I also am not attracted to whiny girls. I like someone who goes with things and doesn’t complicate it.

Most inspirational person in your life: His name is Edouard Baer, a French actor. He is my icon. Because he represents everything I value in a person. He is open-minded, genuine, and really funny. I think of myself as a little weird sometimes and I admire him because he’s not afraid to be strange or different than everyone else.

Where you see yourself in five years: In five years? Hopefully starting a new design communication/advertising agency in France with a friend of mine. In five years, I’ll be 29, so maybe a family and I hope to have a lot of experiences and travels. Hopefully I’ll have had enough money to do a bit more traveling. In five years I hope to be more mature and much wiser in my decisions and in my life and I hope to have quit smoking. Or not (laughs).

Favourite place in the world: It can sound a little bit patriotic, but there is a little beautiful area in Provence at the south of France. I’ve been to a lot of places but this is my favorite. It is the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. Everything is quiet and really scenic there. It’s not artificial and it’s all very wild and natural. It’s just a beautiful place to go and relax.

Confession: I know this is weird but I always chew little bits of paper out of habit. Everyone always thinks it’s gum but it’s always paper!