Crossing Borders, Building Bonds: The ADN Mobilité Experience at IFS

Q1: What was your overall impression? What marked or surprised you the most about your host school?

“I would say that it is the fact that, even if we are on the other side of the world, nothing really changes: there are still students and teachers, homework and exams… It may be a bit silly but the thing that surprised me the most was how all the buildings were designed to make paths for everyone to walk without being soaked when it rained—which was quite often!”

“The thing that struck me the most was the immediate sense of friendliness and warmth I felt on my first day. The school is quite small: 300 students combined! But in Ibiza, their small number becomes a strength, emphasizing the relationship between students, staff, and teachers (they use the informal ‘tu’).

There was also a lot of greenery and a small garden. The school encourages students to bring fruits and vegetables home. This is an initiative that IFS could integrate, by also creating a small garden accessible to all students to show them how much the environment matters.”

Q2: Did you feel welcome and comfortable with your host family? How was your integration into the new school?

“My host family became, as they would say, my Singaporean family. They made sure for me to feel as comfortable as I could be. I’m really grateful to them.

My integration was alright; I didn’t have much problems adapting to the classes, and Agathe and her friends completely integrated me into their friend group!”

“When I arrived, Lada’s family were so happy to welcome me. I became their adopted daughter/sister for the duration of my exchange. I helped with household chores, we played board games, and we watched movies on the sofa on weekends. Lada had even organized a hangout with her friends before the first day of school!

Since the school is small, the class of Seconde only had 18 students. The fact that they are always together makes them very close, pleasant, and dynamic. They immediately welcomed me as if I had known them since I was little, and the teachers were just as warm.”

Q3: What was your most beautiful discovery (cultural, landscape, lifestyle) during your exchange?

“This question is difficult to answer, because I really enjoyed everything Singapore had to offer, except the heat. I really hated how hot it was.

Everything else—the incredible mix between three very different cultures, the greenery that we could find wherever we went, even though we were in the middle of a city—was amazing and I loved it!”

“When you say ‘Ibiza,’ everyone thinks of the party island. But I traveled during the winter off-season, so all that remained was the authentic Spanish Balearic island. There were no tourists, which made the experience much more true to Ibizan life.

And of course, the Mediterranean landscapes are absolutely magnificent. The winter light gave a magical aspect to the panoramic sea views. We even went to Barcelona and Formentera, and I really enjoyed tasting lots of traditional dishes like tapas, paella, and patatas bravas.”

Q4: Personal Growth: What did you learn about yourself or others during these weeks away from home?

“First of all, I think I internalized the fact that we are all humans, and that doesn’t change. Our culture, lifestyle, appearance can be different, but we’re still humans.

Secondly, I knew that I would be there only for a month, so I interacted with everyone a bit more freely: I, most likely, wouldn’t see anyone again so I didn’t really have to care for how I was. And this mindset has followed me to Ibiza, and it’s actually liberating. I’m very glad and happy that I’ve done this exchange program, because it has permitted me to grow as an individual.”

“I realized that the only thing you truly need is curiosity. Without it, I wouldn’t have been motivated to take part in this project or discovered this French school in Ibiza.

Throughout my trip, I tried to speak only Spanish with the locals, since I’m taking Spanish as my LVB. Without even realizing it, my level of comprehension and speaking speed significantly improved. It’s because of unforgettable projects like ADN that I discovered a new culture, made new friends, and experienced a new way of life.

This unforgettable experience would not have been possible without the support of the IFS DNA coordinator, Ms. Pouymonbrat, who was there for my family and me at every stage of the exchange.

Q5: If you had to describe your ADN Mobilité experience in just one word, what would it be?