The Little Things: How I Learned To Live Away From Home

I had never really lived outside my home.Not in another city, state, country. Let alone another continent.For 21 years, Delhi, India was home. I did my entire graduation here. I lived with my family. And honestly, I never really thought twice about it.Then, I moved to France. Almost everyone I’ve met here has had some version of the opposite experience. They’ve lived away from home for university, moved countries for work, gone on exchanges, or spent time in different parts of the world.Me? Nope.

Finding My Feet at INSEAD

Before joining INSEAD, I was excited about the prospect of studying at one of the best business schools in the world. I threw myself into preparing for it: connecting with future classmates, travelling, taking on projects and completing an internship. By the time I arrived, I felt ready to make the most of everything the MBA had to offer.

Culture Week at INSEAD

Dear MIMs,Congratulations on surviving P2! You may now exhale for the first time in six weeks.If I had to describe P2 in one sentence, I’d say it was a mix of academic pressure, unexpected friendships, cultural celebrations and moments where I wondered if I actually lived anywhere outside the Asia Centre.

From Veshti to Victory: A Whirlwind of Community, Culture, and Choices at INSEAD

 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. 

Partner Life as a Bellifontaine

“Okay, but what’s it really like to be an INSEAD partner?” The question, conscious or not, certainly remained present in my brain prior to the move to France. While eager to support my husband’s MBA journey, I struggled to answer those voices (including my own) that asked what exactly I would be doing as a Bellifontaine (i.e., Fontainebleau resident and fun new vocab word).
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