Some Nigerian students in France speak on their experience in the European country.
When Jide Awokoya arrived in Paris, France on September 19, 2013, he felt like he was in Paradise. For the Ogun State-born student, it was a dream come true to travel to Europe to further his education.
In a class of just 21 students, Awokoya, who is pursuing a Master of Science degree in International Business at the France Business School in Brest, narrates his happy moments as an international student.
In an electronic mail to our correspondent, he says, “One of my exciting moments came during the Orientation Day in the university. There were international students from about 10 different countries in my class. It was indeed a cosmopolitan experience.
“Last Christmas was another happy time for me. A French family invited me to a dinner. There I learnt how to eat French food, including uncooked oysters. French people are lovely and friendly.”
But it is not all that rosy for the postgraduate student. Just as there are beautiful moments, there are also challenging times studying in Brest.
He notes, “Western France is not without some challenges. Among them is the extremely cold weather in the small coastal city.
“To be frank, most of my challenges also result from my inability to speak French. It is only with my classmates that I communicate and relate freely as our programme is entirely taught in English. So, everyone speaks English.
“But to speak and relate with people outside my class is a big challenge. French people value their culture very much. An average French man can speak little English, but he will prefer to speak French with you even when he knows you do not speak French.”
Also, beyond the glamour of studying abroad, Awokoya admits that he greatly misses his native country, Nigeria.
He also bares his mind on some of the things the French, especially their students, do – which he considers ‘abnormal’.
“Everyone knows the French love cigarettes. There is hardly a time you get to the school lobby that you do not see students smoking. This means that it will be hard to avoid cigarette smoke while in the lobby and even on the street. Another cultural trait is the bisuous, or the French Kiss, which is the conventional way of greeting.”
Another Nigerian student, Onyinyechi Nene, a postgraduate student at the Paris School of International Affairs, Sciences-Po in Paris, shares a similar experience. Nene, who is pursuing a Master’s Degree in International Development, says she too misses Nigeria.
She notes, “Sometimes, I miss home, but I have tried to ease this off by staying in the African House at the Cité Universitaire, where I have people from our continent.”
When asked why she chose France for postgraduate study, Nene explains that her undergraduate programme in French was her greatest motivation.
“I finished from the Covenant University where I studied French with a Minor in Human Development and Practical Translation. Choosing France for postgraduate study was an idea that came to me while I was in my second year at the university.”
She adds that studying in France has provided her the right blend of cultural diversity because the country truly has an international environment.
“I would advise Nigerians coming here to keep an open mind as France is a multi-cultural environment where you will meet people from all walks of life,” Nene explains.
Advising potential Nigerians planning to study in France, another Nigerian, Ojeh Isaac, studying Computer Networks and Telecommunications at the University Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, warns that there are difficult times in France.
Ojeh says, “Save enough money for yourself, as it is sometimes difficult to get jobs over here if your French is at the intermediate level. Also, be academically prepared as everyone you meet in class is more or less a genius. Learn French to integrate your life with others. Be prepared for a cold weather too, though it is warm during the summer.”
For Neriah David-West, a Law student at the University of Strasbourg, her initial challenge was how to learn the French judicial system, which, according to her, is different from the Nigerian judicial system.
The 21-year-old lady from Rivers State, who is a niece to a former Petroleum Minister, Prof. Tam David-West, shares her homesickness this way.
“Actually, anyone’s sad moment would be staying away from home and no matter how much technology has eased the load in a foreign land, home is still home,” Neriah says.
At a recent briefing in Lagos, the Consul-General of France to Nigeria, Mr. Francois Sastourne, said his country targets no fewer than 500 Nigerian students seeking university education in France every year.
Little wonder, the Embassy of France in Nigeria, last February, held an education fair in to enlighten Nigerians on the need to seek French education.
On language barrier, Sastourne urged Nigerians not to bother, noting that there were provisions to accommodate students who are deficient in the French Language.
“To gain admission to these universities, speaking French is not compulsory. More than 900 masters’ programmes have been offered in the English Language,” he noted. OLALEYE ALUKO writes
