By Jingwen (Iris) Yao, MBA in International Luxury Brand Management student 2013-2014, China
It was a sunny morning when the plane landed at Charles de Gaulle airport. After I left the cabin, I looked up and had my first glance at the sky of France; It was clean and blue, with golden warmth from the sun, indicating that this would be a golden start.
Upon our arrival at ESSEC, the people at Welcoming Center were very nice. They helped us new international students settle down quickly and gave us lots of advice. Next, we met other classmates at the Residence du Port. Everyone was so glad to meet new friends, greeting each other, and we quickly got to know each other.
Our class is a melting pot of international students. Students from 18 countries gathered together, each with their own personalities, expressing their own views in class discussions and in out-of-class discussions. In the first week, we had classes from Professor Simon and Professor Denis. With their wealth of knowledge and experience in the luxury industry, they brought us through the door into the world of luxury and helped us establish a firm foundation in the luxury industry, giving us a comprehensive and profound understanding.
After class, we had several events. Some of them are organized by the school, such as alumni cocktail party and the 2013 graduation ceremony, when everyone wears a formal suit or dress. The boys looked handsome, and girls looked elegant, showing the professional style of the MBA Luxe. We also held some events ourselves, such as the birthday party of a Canadian classmate Nima and a Mexican theme party by Paulina. At these parties, we cooked in our rooms and shared everything together, enjoying a relaxing moment.
The weekends are the best time to explore Paris! Life in Paris is like a movie, with scenic places in vintage styles. No matter whether it’s walking along the Seine on a sunny afternoon, enjoying the Eiffel Tower, driving along the Champs-Elysées at night, exploring tiny boutiques in the alleyways of Paris, or just having a taste of this “city of light,” you will always have a good time.
As a lover of dessert, I am super satisfied in France! Worthwhile trip! Almost all of the desserts here are yummy. My dreams of tasting macarons from Ladurée and Pierre Hermé finally came true. The apple pie and cherry pie here are awesome, as well as the red berries ice cream in Le Port. Of course, there is much more waiting for us to “discover”.
When traveling, safety should always be first. "Look after your belongings," and other advice for living in a big city are things to keep in mind. However, we also encountered some very friendly people: the man helped me when the subway ticket machine swallowed ticket; a lady reminded me to get discount card at grocery store; a girl showed us the way when we got lost in Paris. These people give me a warm memory of France.
Tips for the next year’s students:
·Get your French bank card and cell phone number the first week. It will make your life more convenient;
·You will go to Paris often during the first month, so prepare your metro tickets or transportation card in advance;
·Attend the orientations on the MYESSEC system, banking, insurance, the campus visit, etc. Do not miss them and listen carefully in order to fully take advantage of all the services that ESSEC offers you;
·Our program staff are very nice and elegant, if you have any questions, you can e-mail them or make an appointment to talk with them. Thanks to Jeanine, Anthea, Armelle, Esther, and Anne-Marie for helping us so much with our studies and careers. And special thanks to Olivia, our media ambassador, for giving us this wonderful opportunity to share our lives at ESSEC with you!
For this year, I hope everyone will learn a lot while having a lot of fun! Enjoy your life in ESSEC MBA Luxe!
