“I fell in love with France…”

As a philology and international relations student in Poland, I took law classes at Université Bourgogne Europe. Being in France allowed me to improve my linguistic skills and, so as not to neglect my second subject which is international relations, I was able to find some interesting classes in law here at UBE thanks to the bilateral agreement between our two universities.

My two favorite courses were Institutions administratives and FLE (French as a foreign language) where the professor always discussed news topics which were very interesting from a cultural point of view.

The classes were difficult sometimes as French is not my native language but my fear soon disappeared. When I had difficulties, I asked for notes from my French classmates. And in everyday life you can sort out any administrative worries in English. I think I especially progressed in French in terms of my accent. And, above all, I am no longer scared to speak French and I have a lot more confidence in myself.

It was difficult to leave my close friends and family and I was scared I would not integrate in France. Thanks to new friends and a number of activities organised by the University, my stay in Dijon turned into a great adventure, which helped me to surpass my fears.

When I arrived in Dijon it was still summer. There was a lot of sunshine, it was very hot. It was like I was on holiday. Unfortunately this did not last a long time and I had to kit myself out with an umbrella and rubber boots. But when you are surrounded by friends and exciting plans, you forget the rain!

During my stay I was able to discover Dijon and find my favorite places: Colombiere Park and Lake Kir. I also visited other cities in France: Beaune, Mâcon, Paris, Lyon and Saint-Malo.

Dijon is a beautiful city which is very picturesque. I loved walking down the small streets and having coffee in charming places. French culture is very rich, with an exceptional and impressive heritage. I was surprised by the long break at lunchtime because this system does not exist in Poland.

Despite my food allergies and the fact I don’t eat meat, I found small culinary pleasures: macaroons, crepes, grilled chestnuts, hot croissants… And especially Burgundy wine and kir!

In my opinion the French are quite shut-off and it is not always easy to communicate with them. But at the same time you are friendly and ready to help.

I am very happy with my stay, it was a great experience which enriched my life. I hope I will have another chance to come to France. You should not let the fear of the unknown stop you from leaving and having one of the biggest adventures of your life – those who risk nothing gain nothing!

I fell in love with France! Thank you, my beautiful Dijon, for letting me discover French culture and language, and simply for letting me discover France.

I am currently in my second year of a Master’s in French literature. I have just come back from Montpellier where I was studying. Now I am preparing my Master’s dissertation in Poland.

My stay in Dijon helped my studies in Montpellier without a doubt. I always look back on Dijon with a lot of nostalgia. I am very grateful for having had the chance to study at Université Bourgogne Europe.