The Seven Things Nobody Tells You Before Going on an Exchange

In the July break of 2023, I embarked on a 3-week Global Short Program to learn French on the island of New Caledonia (NC). I’d always wanted to visit Nouméa, NC. Studying the French language for six years of high school, we often used NC as a case study: The “Petit Paris of the Pacific”, or France in our backyard.

And New Caledonia really is like a postcard, abundant with towering palm trees, juicy coconuts, and bougainvillea flower bushes of every colour. The ocean is warm, even in winter! And the locals have a laissez-faire approach to life.

Reflecting on my time in NC, I’d like to share my experience in an unconventional way. I could easily recount all of the incredible experiences from my exchange. However, this blog is a unique opportunity for me to give some advice to those leaving for their own exchange journey.

1. You will make lifelong friends.

Not much can unite people more than living in a foreign country together. I was very fortunate to be in a class with twelve wonderfully unique and well-rounded peers. Since we could not speak in English with anybody else and were forced to be with each other every day, we clung tightly to one another. We quickly became each others’ safe space. I remember the afternoon we sat for hours at the Place des Cocotiers, the central city square, having deep discussions about our relationships, fears and dreams for the future.

2. You will feel lonely.

Leaving your family and friends behind can be really difficult. This is especially true if you’re undertaking a semester- or year-long exchange, or studying in a different time zone. You are plunging headfirst into a new and foreign environment, which can be challenging to navigate without your usual support system by your side. I’ve been blessed to travel internationally many times (I spent a year-long gap year overseas). However, travelling to study was a very different experience. I did not bring existing friends with me, I had responsibilities like homework and exams, and I resided alone with a host family.

3.  You will laugh so hard until your belly hurts.

The new friends, inside jokes and memories you create will stay with you for the rest of your life. Getting to know new people on a deep, personal level was amazing. I can’t count on my fingers the hilarious stories that we now share. For instance, my friends and I had planned to meet at the top of the Ouen Toro hill to watch the sunset. Rather than being driven to the lookout, one friend was dropped at the very bottom and told, “faut profiter de la vue”. She had to walk for an hour all the way up to meet us. From then on, any time something during our trip didn’t go to plan, we would laugh it off and say, “faut profiter”.

4. You will not get along with everybody.

Something that I definitely learnt the hard way through this experience was that you can never please everyone. Whether it is another student in your class or a new person you meet with different views, all you can be is true to yourself and always stand up for your values. I met numerous New Caledonians with prejudiced beliefs about the Indigenous Kanak population. I had to learn to accept that I could not change their mind and avoid conversations about local politics.

5. There will be incredibly high moments. 

Since I was a child, I have always had a fear of sea creatures. But this trip I committed to launching myself out of my comfort zone. One way to do this was to face my fear of snorkelling. And I’m so glad that I did. Because I saw sea turtles! Not one, but two! All thanks to my new friends who encouraged and supported me through it.

6. You will face some extreme lows.

Being away from home for so long can affect your mental health. This is especially the case when you face a challenging situation, and it feels like there’s nobody there to hold your hand through it. Hard times and conflicts are inevitable, so prepare to embrace the challenges and to learn a lot about yourself. I made the difficult decision to transfer to a new host family after struggling to connect with them for weeks. I pushed through the isolation for a long time until I hit a breaking point. It was one of the lowest points I have had to manage in my life.

7. It will make you a stronger person.

I returned from my New Caledonia exchange with more than just an improved French language ability. I created new best friends for life, a deeper understanding of an unfamiliar culture, and of myself. Even though I am a seasoned traveller, this program was the wildest, most spontaneous and most terrifying decision I’d ever made. But I am so glad that I took the leap of faith. Although there were tough times, they were vastly outweighed by the fantastic memories.

Finally, I am grateful to UTS for providing me with the opportunity to study abroad. I now have newfound life experiences, cultural awareness and language skills that will remain with me for the rest of my life.

Tanna Klevansky
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
CREIPAC Intensive French Language Course in France
New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant Recipient