When it comes to the impressions of France, many people think of it as a romantic country, renowned for its red wine, exquisite cuisine, the Eiffel Tower, croissants, macarons, and other delightful things. However, there are also a few negative stereotypes, such as the belief that French people are unfriendly, lazy, reluctant to speak English, or even that they dislike bathing. The stark contrasts in perceptions have even led to phenomena of "Paris Syndrome" in Japan.
Before arriving in France, I had also heard some terrifying experiences from friends who had traveled there. For instance, one friend told me that when she tried to buy a train ticket in Paris, the ticketing staff immediately shut the window upon hearing her speak English and refused to serve her. That was truly... shocking.
<Photo 1> The beauty of Paris truly needs to be witnessed in person.
Nevertheless, since GMBA and Rennes School of Business in France are sister schools, they offer students the opportunity to pursue a dual degree, with scholarships available for outstanding academic performance. As someone who was determined to maximize the value of tuition fees and hoped to study abroad, I knew I had to seize this opportunity. With the help of many people, I was able to begin my study-abroad journey in France successfully.
<Photo 2> Met friendly friends on the first day of school.
I have been in France for almost a year now, and just like many study abroad reflections often say—I have grown a lot. From the panic and confusion of the first day to now being able to communicate with locals using basic French mixed with gestures, I have also gained many opportunities to experience life in new ways. There are so many stories I want to share, but to keep it simple, I’ll break it down into a few key aspects—what exactly have I gained?
Understanding the Local Culture
Many people believe that “traveling” is the best way to understand a local culture—I used to agree completely. However, after visiting 19 different countries, my 20th destination, France, gave me a completely different experience. Since I’ve been here for a longer period and am also studying at a local university, I’ve had a much greater opportunity to observe and immerse myself in the culture.
Take the common stereotype that “French people don’t like speaking English,” for example—it’s actually true! But not because they are arrogant or dislike English speakers (let’s not forget the Hundred Years' War between England and France). Instead, it’s often due to their pursuit of perfection or a lack of confidence in their English skills. I even have classmates with excellent English who still feel insecure about speaking it, which I find quite surprising.
Another interesting aspect is that the French love to debate. As one of my French classmates put it, “We were trained to debate.” No matter the topic, they always have their own unique perspective. This is quite different from Asian cultures, where people tend to be more reserved in expressing opinions. Sometimes, I find it amusing how they seem to have an opinion on absolutely everything! 😂 However, as someone from Taiwan, I see this as a great learning opportunity—we could benefit from being more vocal and engaged in discussions. One major advantage of this debating culture is that you can always have deep conversations about complex topics (such as nuclear energy) without worrying about awkward silences.
After attending various parties, gatherings, and even weddings, one thing that really surprised me was how rarely people use their phones. Most people are fully engaged in conversations, whether with close friends or new acquaintances. And of course, when it’s time to drink and dance, they don’t miss a beat! The relaxed and welcoming atmosphere even helped someone as naturally shy as me feel comfortable enough to join in, hand in hand with everyone else.
<Photo 3> No matter how your dance skills are, just dance!
These may not be big things, but through each interaction, I gain a deeper understanding of the local culture and their way of life. I learn what’s worth adopting and respect what feels unfamiliar. This experience has also helped me develop independent thinking, navigate cultural differences, and build my own resilience. Isn’t that important?
Want to learn French? Come to France!
As a native Chinese speaker, whenever I hear a foreign friend speaking Chinese, even if their pronunciation or word isn’t perfect, I always encourage them and hesitate to correct them too much for fear of offending them. But in France, you’ll meet many French people who are incredibly patient in helping you learn their language.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been corrected on the pronunciation of arc-en-ciel (rainbow), fruit (fruit), and sucre (sugar)—they won’t let you off the hook until you get it right!
Once, while I was out for a run, I greeted an elderly couple strolling by with a casual Bonjour (“Hello” in French). To my surprise, the elderly lady waved me back and slowly taught me to pronounce it properly: Bon~Jou~R. Only after I got it right did she satisfiedly let me go. (It might sound a little intense the way I describe it, but in reality, she was very kind and adorable!)
For sure, there’s also the academic experience.
I’m currently pursuing an MSc (Master of Science) degree at Rennes School of Business. This is an English-taught program, with professors and classmates from all over the world. I’ve had the opportunity to study alongside people from Italy, Turkey, Lebanon, Colombia, Brazil, and many other countries—once again immersing myself in different cultures. While you can find plenty of information online about cultural differences, experiencing them firsthand makes a much stronger impact.
Since group projects are a major part of the program, we constantly learn how to collaborate and communicate with classmates from diverse cultural backgrounds—including figuring out how to deal with less responsible teammates and encourage them to take their work seriously (not joking here!). If you gain experience working across cultures, handling uncooperative colleagues in the workplace later on will feel as easy as a piece of cake!
<Photo 4>This hand gesture means "you're dead" in Taiwan, but in Mexico, it means "yes, yes, yes!"
Most of the professors here have industry experience. While their lectures are based on theoretical frameworks, they often present both positive and negative examples to validate or challenge these theories. Not only do they challenge their own perspectives, but they also encourage students to express different opinions. This creates an engaging classroom atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts.
I particularly enjoy chatting with professors after class. For example, my marketing professor is also a founder and consultant for multiple startups. When I asked him about the challenges startups face in France, he shared insights from his own experiences—and even complained about the heavy taxes imposed by the French government. This kind of firsthand information is invaluable, especially for those considering working in France in the future.
At Rennes School of Business, I have taken several highly practical courses. One of the most impactful was Sales Strategy. The professor had previously worked in Walmart’s procurement department in the U.S., frequently dealing with salespeople from different companies, and now serves as a sales consultant for many businesses. Beyond introducing theoretical sales frameworks, he shared numerous real-world case studies and guided us through negotiation simulations.
The final project for this course was both engaging and practical. The professor asked us to act as potential suppliers for Walmart, requiring us to develop a complete business proposal—including product ideation, market research, marketing channels, sales strategy, and sales team management. My previous Business Development for Startups course in GMBA gave me a strong foundation in market research, product positioning, and marketing, while Sales Strategy filled in the final piece: sales execution. Completing this project was incredibly rewarding and deepened my understanding of sales management.
Another notable course was Business Law. When people hear "law," they often assume it will be a dry and tedious subject. However, the professor made complex international business regulations easy to understand and provided practical insights into common legal pitfalls businesses face.
The final presentations for this course were especially unique. Each team could choose a topic from a list provided by the professor, but we were only given 20 minutes to explore intricate legal issues. Additionally, we had to present our findings in a creative way. I saw teams using debate-style discussions to analyze Covid-19 policies, journalistic interviews to explain immigration issues, and even a "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?"-style quiz to make Schengen and EU regulations more engaging.
<Photo 5>
(Left) Turns out graduation gowns and judge robes look quite similar
(Right) Receiving a handwritten evaluation from the professor—truly touched
Our group chose the topic of "Brexit." We gathered a lot of information, but due to the time constraints of our presentation, we had to find a way to condense it into simple and easy-to-understand content. During the research phase, my French classmates were incredibly helpful—since France is part of the EU, their understanding of the topic was much deeper than mine. Of course, creativity was essential as well. We presented our topic in the style of a "courtroom divorce case," where I played the role of the judge (even borrowing a graduation gown from the school for authenticity), while my two teammates represented the EU and the UK, engaging in a heated courtroom battle over their "divorce" XD. We rehearsed several times, and in the end, our performance received great recognition from both the professor and our classmates (as shown in the evaluation form above). Not only did we gain knowledge, but we also felt a strong sense of accomplishment—such a rewarding experience!
Many people have asked me, "Why pursue another master's degree abroad when you already have one? Won't it delay your career?"
For me, studying abroad is not just about earning another degree or gaining the experiences I’ve mentioned above. One of the greatest benefits is becoming a person with stories to tell. Everyone loves stories—your family, friends, future interviewers (one of my friends stood out from many equally qualified competitors thanks to her work experience in Malaysia), as well as future clients and colleagues. Having diverse experiences not only enriches your personal life but also provides significant advantages professionally. From a business school perspective, how could this be a waste of time? It’s a long-term investment!
Final Thoughts:
As for whether the French really don’t like to shower—I went out of my way to ask several friends, and they all said they do shower every day… I have no way to verify this, but at least I can confirm that they don’t smell bad XD.
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