Carolina Pereira Ribeiro 1

Carolina Pereira Ribeiro

John D. Mock

English 1-A

21 November 2023

Book Report on The Foreign Student - The American Style

I. Introduction. Paris.

This story begins in January on a snowy and depressing day, when all of a

sudden, during Philippe’s English class two men entered the room, dressed

in a fancy way wearing suits and making them look like businessmen,

bringing with them the cold air that was outside. They were there to

announce a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, high school students had now the

chance to win a one-year scholarship at a university in the United States,

which was only possible for college students but in that year, they were

allowing high school students too. The protagonist, Philippe, thrilled with

this rare opportunity didn’t hesitate to raise his hand. Later on, an envelope

came to his house, by the looks of it, he knew it was good news, it said he

was the one chosen to win the scholarship. Scholarship which moved him

“towards the first major turning point” of his life.

II. Autumn.

The narrator starts by remembering the death of Buck Kuschnick, the reason

why remained a mystery to everyone, during Philippe’s stay at Virginia

College. Philippe knew Buck he used to go to his room because he hated his

Austrian roommate. Philippe didn’t like his roommate because he didn’t

want to be stuck with another exchange student, as that would create

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distance between him and the others, being friends with Hans (his

roommate) would turn Philippe into an outsider which was a big fear that

Philippe had.

It is also in this part that we get to know Cal Cate, he and Philippe were

friends. Philippe admires him (almost looking like he has a crush on Cal,

saying he is irresistible and that every boy should be like him). Cal used

Philippe because he was foreign (meaning that he would help them with the

girls) and Philippe used Cal for his car, without a car he wouldn’t get to see

the girls.

We also meet Liz (Elizabeth) who studied in a girls' college and seemed to

have a history with Cal and Abigail (Abby) that was Buck’s girlfriend, later

on we discover that her engagement with Buck was false, their relationship

was fake making everyone wonder if that’s the reason why Buck killed

himself, but Abby assured that it had nothing to do with her but with

Virginia.

III. Winter.

Winter came and with that more exciting parties, love was in the air it was

like Christmas intensified romances, which emphasized the loneliness

Philippe felt, he had already accepted that he was going to spend Christmas

all alone since he had no girl and visiting his family would cost way too

much. It was here that Philippe was invited by Bob to come home and spend

Christmas with him. But before this, Philipe went to Barracks house and

that’s when he met April, he instantly became mesmerized and even

obsessed with her. Philipe used to borrow Cal’s car so that he could go and
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visit April, turning this into a habit of theirs, and it was in the back of the

Buick that he lost his virginity.

When it was time to go with Bob for the Christmas holiday, Philippe was in

love with April (which couldn’t happen back then because of the

segregation, since April was a black woman). When he was in Texas with

Bob, they would go to parties but Philippe decided to remain faithful to

April, despite the temptation.

We find out a little bit about Philippe's family, specifically that he has a

brother and that he is being called not to war but something similar to police

action.

We also know Old Zach, the dean of the literature department, everyone on

campus adored him, Philippe admired him and he was fascinated with

Philippe, mostly, because he was French.

Liz shows up again in this part, in a lecture that Philippe and Harry were also

attending, at first Philippe doesn't recognize her, she was different and was

trying to change.

IV. "Spring".

Philippe applies for a job so that we can take a loan so that we can buy

himself the car he wants, he does this so that we can go and meet with

Elizabeth (he found out that she doesn't like to be called Liz).

Elizabeth and Philippe meet at a tearoom, during this meeting he notices

how unstable she is because of her parents and that she even had anorexia.

During their conversation, she started to open up and explain to Philippe

how she was raised by her mother who taught her to control and hate all

men.
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The ball is coming and Philippe decides to ask Elizabeth to be his date,

realizing later on that he is in love with her. Surprisingly he goes to see April

again because he thinks Elizabeth is using her illness to manipulate him but

ends up realizing that he is just being cruel and stupid to Elizabeth.

Noticing that he hadn't much time to conquer and “fix” Elizabeth, Philippe

goes to the Dean to ask him for one more year. The dean despite seeing his

amazing grades and that he even had a job to pay the fees, he tells Philippe

to just enjoy the rest of the scholarship but in the end, he ends up getting his

scholarship renewed.

V. Conclusion.

The book ends with Philippe learning the cheapest way of getting anywhere,

which is hitchhiking, he even had someone explaining to him everything he

needed to do. We find out he is hitchhiking because he had to sell the Buick,

which he had bought from Cal so that he could be able to afford his

education at that all-male, Virginia College.

Elizabeth's mother put her psychotherapy, and Philippe now received a letter

from Elizabeth saying that she is still seeing a doctor and taking a lot of

drugs but that she is feeling a lot better now.

Finally, he concludes that everything that happened during his stay in

America was for his own good and that everything he went through, no

matter how small it was, taught him something. In the end, this life-changing

experience represents the passage from a boy into a man.