Life Beyond the Comfort Zone – A Semester Abroad in France

Ever since I applied to university, I knew that I wanted to gain experience abroad. Originally, I imagined myself in a big, busy city with rich culture; however, I realized that it is worth it to pick a destination outside of my comfort zone, since a fixed-time mobility programme is the perfect opportunity for experimenting with a new way of life. That is how I ended up in Grenoble, a smaller, slow-paced French town where nature and sports are in the spotlight. The “Capital of the Alps” is the perfect choice for nature and mountain sports enthusiasts, and it is also rich in social events thanks to the coordinators and student organizations at Grenoble Ecole de Management, who provided opportunities such as city tours, karaoke nights, and board game afternoons throughout the whole semester.

What made the semester really special for me was definitely the people. Although we started out as strangers, within a few weeks, it became natural to spend coffee breaks between lectures together and celebrate the end of the week with the group in a bar, talking for hours. We also made the most of weekends and holidays with hikes, trips, and parties. Within four months, we went from nervous introductions to painful goodbyes, and even though I might not cross paths again with some of these friends, I am grateful for each one of them for providing home and comfort in a foreign country.

One of the most important lessons that I had to learn was to let some control out of my hands, and instead of overstressing, enjoy the moment while it lasts. I started out with a lot of plans filled with travels and adventures that I wanted to fit into a single semester, but these four months were over in the blink of an eye. I tried my best to find a balance between studying, relaxing, and having fun, while also trying to keep in touch with my loved ones from home. During my last walk in the city, I could not help but wonder about the experiences I could have lived during my time there. Still, looking back, what I will remember is not the things I missed out on but the friendships formed and memories created.

Now it is your turn to participate in an adventure of a lifetime! If you already submitted your preference list, complete the second step of the application by January 8! If you missed the application period, you can still apply in May for the remaining spots for the 2026/2027 Spring semester. You can find all the information here.