Sybille Chovet

Sybille: a cross-border journey between Chile and Germany

Adapting, learning, growing… For Sybille, a Bachelor’s student in International Management at EM Normandie, her international experience has taken on a very special significance. Following her first experience living abroad in Santiago, Chile, she pursued her studies with a double degree in Osnabrück, Germany. Two countries, two cultures, two ways of learning, but one shared conviction: an international focus has become an integral part of her professional future.

An educational and inspiring time abroad

Could you introduce yourself (first name, course, campus, year of study)?

My name is Sybille Chovet, I am 22 years old and I started the Bachelor’s degree in International Management at EM Normandie on the Le Havre campus in September 2022. In my third year, I opted for the double degree programme in Germany and am currently awaiting graduation.

Why did you choose EM Normandie?

I chose EM Normandie for two main reasons: its international focus and the atmosphere.

One of my main criteria when looking for a university was the opportunity to study abroad early on in my degree. The Bachelor’s degree in International Management allowed me to spend a year abroad from the second year onwards. In the third year, I had the opportunity to complete a double degree in Germany.

So, on a three-year course, I could spend two whole years abroad: what a dream!

What’s more, when I was in my final year of high school and looking for a university, I attended several events organised by EM Normandie. The first was an open day at the Caen campus. As soon as I walked into the building, several students and members of staff greeted me, and I knew straight away that this was going to be my university. All the other events I attended with EM Normandie only reinforced my desire to go there. I always felt a sense of family and warmth during my interactions, and this was confirmed when I started in September 2022 on the Le Havre campus.

Can you describe the atmosphere and student life?

I really got a taste of student life right from the two-week induction period. We were thrown straight into the thick of things with activities organised by senior students. Between themed parties, challenges, a day by the lake and so much more, those two weeks got off to a flying start! All of this naturally continued throughout the year thanks to the various student councils (Student Council, Arts Council and Sports Council). The Student Council organised student parties, the Arts Council organised the Gala, and the Sports Council set up partnerships with local sports clubs to offer us physical activities (tennis, boxing, basketball…).

Which skills have you developed most throughout your studies?

My academic journey taught me practical language skills (particularly in English and Spanish). From my first year, I was in the English-speaking stream with international students. We also had a few international lecturers, which meant we had to speak English all the time. I also chose to continue with Spanish classes at university because the university offered them and I didn’t want my former skills to decline.

I was also able to improve my speaking skills because we had quite a few group projects that involved giving final presentations in front of the class and in front of panels…

Do you have a memorable moment or experience to share?

I think the two years I spent abroad were formative experiences that I will remember for the rest of my life and that have helped me become the person I am today.

How do you feel about your career plans at the moment?

The various internships I undertook during my Bachelor’s degree helped me decide which sector I wanted to specialise in: luxury events. My career path is now very clear, and my experiences abroad have also reinforced the importance of an international dimension in my future career.

Which country and which university/campus did you go to?

During my second year abroad, I decided to spend a year in Santiago, Chile, studying at Finis Terrae University.

In my third year, I decided to pursue a double degree and went to Osnabrück in Germany to study at the ‘Hochschule Osnabrück’, which is also known as the Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences.

Why did you choose this specific location?

I chose Chile because, above all, I wanted to go to a Spanish-speaking country to improve my Spanish. It was also important to me to take classes in English so that I could maintain some familiar ground. Taking these two criteria into account, I had two options: Valencia in Spain or Santiago in Chile.

It would be a lie to say that I immediately chose Santiago. At first, I was more drawn to Valencia: it was closer, and therefore less daunting, and I’d heard very positive feedback from a student who’d been there the previous year. For me, the decision seemed made: I wanted to go to Valencia. That was without counting on my parents’ intervention, who gradually convinced me that the experience in Santiago would be a much bigger change of scenery and that such an opportunity might only come around once. I then got in touch with a student who’d been through the experience, and her account finally convinced me: I was going to Santiago.

As for my third year and the dual degree programme, there were two possible destinations: Morocco and Germany. This time, my choice was clear from the very beginning: I wanted to go to Germany. I’ve always been drawn to that country because, as a car enthusiast, I’m passionate about motoring. I also wanted to explore a country and a part of Europe that I knew very little about.

What differences have you noticed in teaching methods?

When I arrived in Chile, I was told that, as I was staying for a full year, I would have to take classes in Spanish because they didn’t have enough courses in English to cover both semesters. So I found myself in classes made up mainly of Chilean students, taught by Chilean lecturers. I found the teaching methods more ‘childish’ and got the impression that the students were generally less mature than in France. The academic standards required and the teachers’ expectations also seemed lower to me. For example, assessment was mainly based on continuous assessment, with a final exam at the end of the semester. However, if a student achieved a certain average in the continuous assessment, they could be exempted from the final exam. I therefore never sat a final exam in Chile as I always achieved an average above that mark.

The situation is quite the opposite in Germany. In my view, academic expectations are higher than in France, the exams are more demanding, and many international students struggle to adapt to the academic standards required. Students are also much more independent: if some choose not to study, lecturers will not seek to supervise them or urge them on.

What have you learnt, both academically and personally, during this experience?

From an academic perspective, studying abroad is a particularly enriching experience. I had to learn new ways of working and communicating, and, more generally, new ways of doing things. During my first semester in Germany, I chose two courses related to event management, as this was the field I wanted to specialise in. The knowledge I gained from these two courses is proving very useful to me now during my final-year internship and has confirmed my desire to pursue a career in this sector.

However, I would say that my two experiences abroad have benefited me more on a personal level than on an academic one. I really feel that I have developed, grown and matured.

Finding yourself on the other side of the world, far from your parents and familiar surroundings, and sometimes dealing with a significant time difference, means you have to become independent and learn to rely on yourself. These two experiences also opened my eyes to the importance of international exposure in my life. They strengthened my desire to travel and confirmed that I could not see myself in a job that did not involve foreign languages or allow me to discover the world.

How did you find settling in (in terms of culture, language and daily life)?

The hardest adjustment was undoubtedly in Chile. I arrived in Santiago on 18 July 2023, leaving the French summer behind for the Chilean winter: so I already had to adjust to the weather. As I was travelling on my own, I didn’t know anyone there and, having arrived a week before the start of the two-week induction period, I found myself alone in a huge city I didn’t know. That’s when it got really tough. Knowing I was leaving for a whole year also made things more complicated because, at that moment, a year seemed like an extremely long time. Fortunately, as soon as the induction began, my life changed completely and I really started to enjoy the experience. I also experienced several culture shocks. For example, I was surprised by how slow Chileans are in many everyday situations: in restaurants, in fast-food outlets, in the way they walk down the street, or even in their response times. The style of dress, the weather and certain habits also surprised me, such as mixing red wine with Coca-Cola in the evening (very surprising!). As for the language, Chilean Spanish is very different from the Spanish we learn at school. Chileans use their own words, their own expressions and even their own verb conjugations... Not to mention their very strong accent! Despite this, you get used to it quickly and it becomes quite easy to communicate with Chileans.

As for Germany, the culture shock was less significant than in Chile, but certain aspects of daily life can still come as a surprise. Germans have a more relaxed pace of life, so it’s almost impossible to go to a restaurant after 9 pm. During the winter term, I was also struck by the fact that it gets dark very early, and it can be quite unsettling when it’s already pitch black at 4.30 pm. As for the language, I didn’t speak a word of German when I arrived, but that isn’t a problem as the great majority of Germans speak English, whether in restaurants, supermarkets, at sporting events or, more generally, in everyday life.

Have you developed any particular skills or a broader outlook as a result of living abroad?

Once again, these two experiences have significantly improved my Spanish and English. I also feel that I can now adapt to new situations more easily and naturally, and I have developed a real sense of independence. These two experiences have also given me a much broader perspective on foreign cultures, different ways of life and, on a more general level, on travel and international affairs.

Can you share a memorable moment from your stay?

As for Chile, I think my most unforgettable memory is still the visit from my parents, my brother and my sister in February 2024. Seeing them again after seven months apart was a very emotional moment. Showing them the city where I lived, my daily routines, my friends and my favourite places was both unsettling and extremely rewarding. It made me feel very proud of how far I’d come and of everything I’d managed to build up to that point.

As for Germany, it’s not really a specific memory but more of a general feeling when I look back on that year: the semesters followed one another but were all quite different. The first semester, from September 2024 to January 2025, was a bit more difficult because international students tended to stick together and group by nationality, which limited social interaction. The weather was also rather gloomy, with night falling very early, and the lectures didn’t necessarily meet my expectations. In contrast, the second semester was magical. The students were much more open and mixed, which helped create a real community of international students. Numerous events were organised by the city and the university, such as the Maiwoche or the Terrassenfest, which made student life much more vibrant. The courses also suited me better. All in all, life was good!

How has this experience impacted your plans for an international career?

Even before these two experiences, I already knew that I wanted to bring an international dimension to my career. Following my two years living abroad, this is no longer just a wish but a genuine need. I need to speak English, I need to speak Spanish, I need to travel and move around, and I need to discover other countries and cultures.

I’m currently based in Paris, working in the luxury events sector, but if opportunities abroad arise, I won’t hesitate for a second to seize them.