Mollie – IESEG School of Management Lille – France
Semester 2, 2022 – Semester 1, 2023
BS08 Bachelor of Business
“It was in that moment, on the bullet train back from a weekend trip to London, that I realised… I’d just called France home”.
It is categorically impossible for someone to be completely and entirely prepared for something as big an exchange. This was the lesson I learned the hard way when I chose to complete the BS08 Double Degree Program at the IESEG School of Management in Lille, France.
My name is Mollie, I’m 21 years old and I’ve just returned home from an extraordinary, unequivocal, and exhausting year abroad.
How It Started
In my research before leaving, I only read articles about the friends made and the adventures had, but nowhere did I hear about the challenges – because there’s just no way to prepare someone for the unique challenges they are going to face in the real world. So, in this article, I aim to best prepare you for what might lie ahead, and that despite it all, this year was without a doubt the greatest of my 21 years.
It’s no secret that paperwork is potentially the worst invention on earth, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that there is a LOT of paperwork involved in any predeparture planning. That being said, no one will tell you what paper needs to be submitted when and to whom. I’m not ashamed to admit that the entire predeparture experience was nearly enough for me to dig my heels in and say “that’s it, I’m not going”… thank god I didn’t.
Keep your head up. Do not be afraid to be a little annoying (or in my case a lot) and ask as many millions of questions needed to get what you want to go. There is no one timeline of events that QUT can provide you because everyone’s exchanges will be different. My best advice is to take it bitesize at a time, so you don’t drown in the overwhelming amount of (frankly overly fluffed up) information.
Travelling Around Europe
And oh, the feeling of sitting on that first flight out of Brisbane. Destination: “ANYWHERE ELSE”. It is magical! (Of course, 14 hours later you may be feeling differently). I chose first to travel around Europe before making my way to Lille. The European Summer experience is unlike anything else! When the sunlight stays alive until well past 9pm, and the pizzas are 24/7, music sings from the ancient cobbled streets paved thousands of years before wretched paperwork.
One of the most important and daunting decisions about a year abroad is “where in the world am I going to live?!”. I chose to stay in a residence suggested by my university, but I was one of the lucky few who managed to get a room before they were all gone. Especially if you choose to travel to Europe, the housing crisis has led to some pretty interesting and… shall we say innovative housing solutions. Its best to get in as soon as you can and explore your options and the requirements so that you’ve got everything ready to go as soon as you apply. Some agencies, like those in France, require you to call up to reserve an apartment, it cannot just be done online (much to my Gen-Z dismay).
Adapting to France
I’ll admit, my apartment wasn’t the flashiest of spots, and I didn’t make my friends in my building, but I loved my home! I made it my own – throughout the year I travelled to more than 20 different countries and nearly 50 cities – I collected paintings and postcards or simply just cool train tickets from everywhere and created an amazing wall of memories in my little home. I went to the local markets on the weekends and bought fresh tulips to make my place beautiful. I learned how to cook for myself. The greatest blessing I had on my exchange was my space to create a beautiful home and learn how to take care of myself.
Next, there is a reason France is wellknown for its many stereotypes! Despite having done one semester of introductory French and mastering a whole 60-day Duolingo streak, my first time ordering a croissant at the boulangerie nearly resulted in a pain au chocolate in my pants. It was so intimidating!
It’s tough not to assume that a university town is going to speak English. It’s infuriating when you get tonsilitis and your international university medical centre doesn’t have an English-speaking doctor. But that’s the reality. Google translate becomes your best friend.
That being said, I’m proud of how much my understanding of language expanded and how much I pushed myself to learn. It’s added so much value to my life being able to ask simple questions, but also to build relationships with others who appreciate your efforts.
It’s hard to say goodbye…
And of course, the hardest part of all – the WORST part of doing an exchange, is saying goodbye. I absolutely loved living in Lille, studying with such a diverse group of students at IESEG, and travelling as often as I could. The opportunity to see the world at such a young age and with the security of QUT behind you is something that doesn’t come around too often.
So, whether you are at the very beginning of the process, halfway through the planning or just about to leave and thinking “holy moly what am I doing?”, trust me, you are not alone. Every challenge is just another cobble in the road, and once you’re there you’ll quickly learn that it is most definitely a road worth travelling.
