Going abroad: a semester in India

Testimonial by Félix, exchange student at Jindal Global University

‘What was I thinking?’, “It’s going to be amazing”, “I’m so scared, what am I going to do if I don’t like the country or meet anyone?”, ’I want to go now, I can’t wait any longer.’
I had all these contradictory thoughts before I left for my semester abroad in India. With my plane tickets already booked, there was no turning back, and I left France on 31 August to go to this country that so many people talk about, but few have actually been to.
It was the first time in my life that I’d been to India, the first time in my life that I’d been to Asia, and the first time that I’d been so afraid to travel.
But today, after 56 memorable days in the country, I know that I will never regret this decision.

From the very first days at my university, I got to know the other international students. They made me forget all my doubts and reinforced my desire to discover the land of the Ganges. My life on campus is peaceful thanks to them. We eat together, we do sport together and we even plan trips together. In short, we have quickly acquired our habits. Everyone is there for a different reason, but we’re all there for each other, which is reassuring when you’re so far from home.

I’ve been lucky enough to be able to choose my courses from an almost endless list, as well as being able to schedule them over 2 days, giving me maximum time to discover the country in my free time. Every week, I have the chance to travel. Every week, India impresses me more.

With its cities all so different from one another, passing through remote corners like the Thar desert, or discovering the mountains and forests of the north, I really understand why India is a country rich in diversity, both in terms of landscapes and cultures.
Rajasthan fascinated me with its architecture, its history and its colours: the blue city, Jodhpur; the pink city, Jaipur; the golden city, Jaisalmer; and finally the white city, Udaipur. These places are brimming with life and history. Each place has its own identity and atmosphere. I know I still have so much to discover.
Himachal Pradesh has opened my eyes to the beauty of nature. The Himalayan mountains are imposing, magnificent, calm and begging to be climbed. Since I’ve been in India, it’s there that I’ve felt the strongest urge to return.

As for Uttar Pradesh, it gave me the opportunity to visit some iconic places and to confirm some of the stops on my bucket list: Varanasi, a sacred city, and Agra, home to one of the wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal.

But India does not only shine for its landscapes and monuments, but also for its gastronomy. The rumours are true, spices are everywhere. The beginning was difficult, my little French stomach playing tricks on me. But you get used to it, and after a while you start to enjoy it, because you know that it will be very hard to find something similar once you’re back in France.

This article allows me to look back at everything I’ve seen and learnt, and to compare the way I was before these 2 months with the way I am now. A lot of my prejudices and fears have disappeared. I’m already nostalgic for certain moments, and all I want is to travel more!