Student Exchange to INSEEC Ecole de Commerce Européenne-Bordeaux campus, France
I have always longed for a chance to study abroad; therefore I decided to apply for the exchange programme during the last year of my studies at Ming Chuan University. The exchange application process indeed took a long period of time, yet everything is worth it at the end and I truly encourage any of you to go on a similar adventure as I did. Why do I say so? It is because you do get inspired by the western approach to education and the way students study there, I am certain this lesson will help me in my future and career path.
Having the idea to apply to this programme, I am really indebted to my parents to support me in financial aid and willing to let me experience different education in another country. Also, I appreciate that our school gave me an opportunity to be an exchange student to study another school.
Before arriving in Bordeaux, France, I did have a hard time to look for accommodation It took me more than three months to find an accommodation due to Bordeaux itself it’s a student city, more than 20 people who are wanting a studio as much you do. Fortunate, I met one of the other exchange students who gave me a contact and turned out I lived with a French family and learnt French from them.
At Ming Chuan University, I majored in Applied English and when I was in France, I studied Business Management. One of my favourites is a wine business. I have learnt a lot of finance to sell win, history of wine, winemaking principals and wine tasting. I remembered the last week of the class; we had an intensive wine tasting that we started drinking from 9h30 till 17h for four days consecutively and the last day of class, most of us were getting tipsy and our teacher decided to give us an exam. It was intriguing and educational.
During these few months, I was working hard with my French since I have never taken my French courses before coming to France. I have tried my best to practise with my host family, teacher and my friends; now I proudly use French to order food to ask a question and present myself in French. In my point of view, learning a language is a way to reflect the local culture, to blend into society and to understand the local perspective. In fact, I not only gained a lot of academic knowledge but also learnt about different cultures and observed how diverse nationalities of people behave adversely when it occurs to dissimilar circumstances.
In a nutshell, studying abroad is a lot about being outside of your comfort zone, once you step out you will realise you can capable to do whatever you want. In my experience, I was the only Asian student in the entire programme. I am contented that I can make friends with people from all over the world. Now I have friend from Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Poland, Mexico, and France etc. I not only learn their cultures but their cuisines, which enlighten me a new aspect of life.
I highly encourage every student to go out into the world to experience and share your own culture with everyone else. And I promise that you will return back richer from your experiences.