“YES!”, I screamed in November 2025, while staring at the acceptance email from IÉSEG university. “I AM GOING TO FRANCE!”, I texted my family in Myanmar, too excited to sleep. That moment took me back to August 2023, to my father’s cautious voice at the dinner table in Myanmar, “You might not be able to make it to France. Just focus in the UK.”
When offered the chance to study abroad, I didn’t want it to be another academic experience. I chose Lille deliberately, not Paris nor the South, for its accessibility and affordability which aligned with my desire to maximise my potential with minimal damage for the planet (SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production).
I gasped, “Wow”, as Madame Marie Héléné Penet opened the door to her home on the 20th of January. For just 480 per month, I lived in a haven of warmth and books, family photos, indoor plants with fireplace. Her home-cooked meals and stories of French culture offered me something priceless, peace. My roommates from Kyrgyzstan and India welcomed me like family. It wasn’t just housing – it was home.
I travelled by Eurostar to reduce emissions (SDG 13: Climate Action), cooked almost every meal myself with groceries from Linkee, a non-profit organization supporting students with basic groceries and needs (SDG 2: Zero Hunger). The kitchen became a sanctuary where French cuisine met Burmese recipes. Friendships were plated at the dinner table where we had conversations about business, culture and sustainability.
Soon, I joined “Women In Business” association’s International Marketing Team which was an inspiring group of women with shared ambitions and empathy. We not only worked together but shared stories about business ventures that aimed to make a difference. (SDG 17: Partnerships for goals & SDG 5: Gender Equality)
“Bonjour!”, echoed across Lille which was the most vibrant part, their people. IÉSEG was the world gathered around in a building. A mosaic of nationalities expanded my experiences in the UK. I befriended people from countries I have only seen in movies or books and thought was out of reach. Over home-cooked meals, we exchanged worldviews, laughter and dreams for a better world. I learnt that real progress comes from listening deeply and collective wisdoms.
Instead of malls and tourist sites, me and local friends wandered cobbled streets and thrift stores known as “fripperies”. I learnt to love secondhand sweaters and fruits from local markets like Wazemmes. I found joy of lying in a garden under the sun while learning French. I realized consumerism dulls the senses which community sharpens. This is where true wealth was.
This was my Lille – not five star hotels nor restaurants but train rides with home cooked meals, spending time with books and fun moments with friends. I left with more than knowledge but wisdom and deeper understanding of the world.
Somewhere between Madame Penet’s old books, I became someone who travels for purpose and not pleasure. I learnt that peace is the highest form of luxury.
