When it was time to fly the nest, nothing was going to stop our intrepid intern Lyna from an adventure abroad. Find out about her experiences in Bordeaux, capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region and synonymous with world-class culture, legendarily expensive wine and historic buildings.
When you are 18, you can’t wait to leave your parent’s house, to have your own place, your own rules. The idea of independence is exciting, a dream every teenager holds onto. So when I graduated from high school, I had to make a choice: stay home for university or go abroad.
After living at home all my life, I was desperate for change, for the thrill of navigating life on my own. Studying abroad was the obvious choice. I already knew I wanted to go to France, far enough to feel independent but close enough to still feel connected. The only question left was where. I applied to multiple business schools, and when the results came in, I had to choose between Nice, Lille, Reims, Rouen, and Bordeaux. Not knowing much about any of them, I started my research by trying to imagine what my life would be like in each place.
The Miroir d’eau in Bordeaux
I finally settled on Bordeaux. While rent prices were high, everything else felt just right. The city’s warm weather, welcoming people, charming architecture, and excellent public transport won me over. It felt like the perfect place to start my new life.
Reality hit quickly
However, reality hit quickly. I spent weeks searching for accommodation from home, emailing landlords and joining Facebook groups, but no one wanted to let a room to someone who wasn’t already in France. So I packed my bags and landed in Bordeaux and embarked on a seemingly endless flat-hunting quest, dragging my suitcases from one end of the city to the other. After two weeks, I finally secured a place with roommates I had never met. The thought was nerve-wracking considering all the roommate horror stories I had heard. But to my delight, they became some of the best friends I could have asked for.
But that was just the start. Opening a bank account? Complicated. Getting a French phone number? Confusing. Applying for health insurance? Overwhelming. Adulting hit me all at once. But little by little, I figured everything out. Once everything was in place, I could finally breathe and start enjoying Bordeaux.
Bordeaux has everything
The city did not disappoint. It was the end of summer, still warm and I fell in love with the cobblestone streets, the cafés and the little bookshops. I spent hours walking through Rue Sainte-Catherine, the city’s main shopping street or strolling along the Garonne River. Some places that stand out to me are the Miroir d’Eau and La Cité du Vin. Or also Le Grand Théâtre with Philippe Etchebest’s Michelin-starred restaurant Le Quatrième Mur where I had an incredible meal I’ll never forget. The Musée des Beaux-Arts and the Musée de Science et Nature became some of my favourite places. Bordeaux has everything: it is dynamic, full of students, rich in culture, and it is the kind of place that makes you feel alive.
Studying at Kedge Business School was just as exciting; the campus was stunning, the classes engaging, and the international environment inspiring. Everything was falling into place, yet something felt off.
I was homesick.
Saint James Street in Bordeaux.
Despite how much I loved Bordeaux, my friends, and my new life, I counted the days until Christmas break. Five months away from home felt like an eternity. I longed for the comfort of familiar faces and the simplicity of being surrounded by family. The freedom I had wanted so badly suddenly felt heavy. Being an adult was not as easy as I had imagined.
But when I finally made it home, something was different. I had changed. I felt proud as I sat with my family, telling them about everything I had been through, finding a flat, and handling paperwork. I had faced every challenge head-on, and my family saw it, too. They noticed I was more confident and less reserved. It wasn’t just that I had learned how to handle things on my own; I had learned that I could handle anything.
Yet, after two weeks at home, something unexpected happened. I started missing Bordeaux. I missed not having to organize my schedule around anyone else, my little routines and my independence.
I felt invincible
Those first five months had changed me. They made me feel invincible – like I could take on any challenge. And now, refreshed from home, I was ready to go back to my own little life, the one I had built for myself in Bordeaux.
If you’re interested in studying in Bordeaux, check out our A Level French Revision and Intensive Language Course packages here.
