Writing this from Fontainebleau, I'm struck by how indecision can rob us of life's greatest moments. I wasn't meant for Abu Dhabi's exchange, telling everyone that I was a ‘good finance person’; there was no financial ROI in campus exchanges. Had that been the end of this story, I would have missed out on what is unequivocally the best part of my INSEAD MBA experience. As bidding for campus exchanges closed, three individual conversations with my colleagues Shahzen, Abhi, and Anusha forced me to reevaluate why I was here and what ROI truly means.

• Read more about The Abu Dhabi exchange: A defining moment of my INSEAD experience

 When I arrived at INSEAD, I knew I was walking into one of the most intense and transformative years of my life. Looking back on my journey through P1 and P2, I have realised that INSEAD is not just about the academic rigour. It is about creating connections, building communities, and pushing one’s boundaries in ways one never imagined through laughter, lungis, and lifelong friendships. 

• Read more about From Veshti to Victory: A Whirlwind of Community, Culture, and Choices at INSEAD

My only experience in the Middle East had previously been in 2014. I was heading to Europe for a vacation, and had stopped over in Qatar. There, I saw the sun – a flaming ball of red – rising over an endless desert. The locals breezed by in long, flowing robe-like attires that are mostly in hues of white or black. A kaleidoscope of accents greeted me as I entered shops and restaurants, indicating that a huge number of foreigners worked there as well.

• Read more about Finding “Gold” in INSEAD’s Abu Dhabi Campus Exchange

When I joined consulting in January 2016, I was told to 'make My own McKinsey.' Which not only meant that the next months and years to come could be anything I wanted, but also that it was ultimately me, who was responsible for making this 'anything' happen. It was up to me to create the experience I wanted and to enjoy it.

• Read more about Beyond INSEAD

Before the campus exchange to Abu Dhabi, I had little knowledge about the UAE. The impression was limited to desert, oil, shopping mall, hot summer and religion. Although I sometimes saw my friends showing their excited selfies with the exotic backgrounds in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, I never thought about taking two months to explore. However, my curiosity arose rapidly when hearing more and more classmates describing their moments living in this region.

• Read more about More than Oil and Shopping Malls

When you are in the process of learning a new language, some words you encounter actually define a concept or pinpoint feelings very specific to a certain culture or lived experience.

• Read more about December Break Reflections and The Sehnsucht for P1/P2