EDITORIAL
An atypical course
I spent my childhood moving from a city to another one, following my parents as they made their decisions. Gradually, I began to perceive a strong taste for social interactions and the challenge of adaptation. Later, when I turned 16, I finally perpetuated their way to do by changing cities every 2 years, from high school until the end of my studies in 2020. However, I never was lucky enough to go outside of France. These repeated moves had made me miss all the notable events such as skiing, green class, and of course when they went abroad.
Like many of us in the studies spiral, I walked forward with blinders on. I only saw the diplomas, the future job and the salary. In 2019, a year before the end of my studies and already consumed by the fear of the working world, the headache, the stress of the financial situation, I decided to change things. While I was in this precarious student situation, as unfortunately many are every year, I said STOP to many pleasures, the superfluous, the drinks outside and the endless parties which find their fulfillment in the 7am nausea. This year was an opportunity for me to prepare myself as well as possible for my departure project, I had decided to go to Asia, a desire maintained for years before. So I focused on learning English, basic Mandarin, the savings made by working and planning this project.
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"A young Frenchman of 24 who, after having spent the last 5 years studying
(as for many of us), was keen to finally be able to travel! "
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The first part of my plan succeed at the end of December 2019. I go to Beijing to take the temperature of the Asian world. It is indeed a place that I really like, I spend 10 days there (European New Year included) and I love what I see there. This place is indeed rich in historical and cultural terms. I returned from this trip with a head full of good memories, then I focused more on the living conditions, the opportunities and the feasibility of the project. On the other hand, the more my research progressed, the further it took me from mainland China. My heart and my mind felt more aligned with Taiwan. So I finally chose this destination to spend a full year. Things were not easy to put in place because the virus was in full swing in 2020… I completed my last year of study in Paris, obtained my diploma, then focused on the terms of departure. I had to arm myself with daring, organization and speed in my efforts. Indeed, each day brought me a little closer to a new confinement in France. My instinct was also right because a few days after my arrival in Taiwan (October 2020), I read an article announcing the second French national confinement.
Long story short, when you have a goal you should never let go. Many will tell you (in specific situations or not) that it is not very serious, not viable, or even impossible. The truth is, if you know how to adapt yourself quickly, focus 100% on the goal and do whatever it takes to achieve it -> You will then realize that NOTHING is impossible.