Paris is often known as a romantic city with the Eiffel Tower and the magnificent Louvre Museum. However, for Dahasrul, Paris is more than just a tourist destination. “I want to pursue a career in another country, not just come as a tourist,” he said.
Dahasrul is an alumnus of the French Language Education Study Program at the University of Lampung (Unila) class of 2014. Since 2019, he has lived in Paris, France.
Currently, he is completing his master’s studies, working as an Assistant Manager at a local company, and as a tour guide for Indonesian tourists visiting Europe.
The decision to move abroad was born from family encouragement. “The main factor that drives me is my family, especially my late mother. I want to make her proud and upgrade myself with knowledge and experience,” said Dahasrul.
That desire fueled his determination to pursue his dream of a career abroad. Paris was chosen as a destination for development due to its dynamic, large city atmosphere. According to Dahasrul, this environment fosters a competitive mindset.
When he first arrived in Paris, he was immediately impressed. “The atmosphere is very romantic, with many historic and iconic sites like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, and the Champs Élysées,” he said.
But behind the beauty, cultural challenges and work systems pose a challenge. Currently, Dahasrul works in management, aligning with his master’s degree. His French language education is key.
“My work and studies are 100% in French. If I hadn’t majored in French, I probably wouldn’t have ended up in France,” he said.
His educational and career journey began with a cultural exchange program. For a year, he studied French language and culture to adapt.
After that, he continued his master’s studies while working through a work-study program from the French government. “This program allowed me to survive in the world of work and education at the same time,” he explained.
Cultural adaptation is the biggest challenge. “Europeans really value time and speak frankly. If it’s good, they say it’s good. If it’s not, they say it’s not,” he said.
To overcome this, Dahasrul chose to mingle directly with the local community to more quickly understand their mindset and culture. The French environment provided experiences that shaped who he is today.
He felt the values imbued in society, namely Liberté (freedom), Égalité (equality), and Fraternité (brotherhood). These mottos, born of the French Revolution, reflected a society free from oppression, equal standing before the law, and mutual respect as fellow citizens.
For Dahasrul, the journey from Unila to Paris was a combination of hard work and opportunity. “There’s nothing special about it; I just always believed in my own dreams,” he concluded.
He hopes his story will inspire students, particularly those studying French Language Education at the University of Lampung, to dare to dream and actively seek opportunities on a global level. [Muzamil Kakar]
