“I came here to France because I wanted to get a Master’s degree in a special program for agriculture, and Türkiye does not have this program. I chose France because some of my family lives in Paris, so it was easy for me. When I am done and have my license, I want to have my own company back in Türkiye.”
“At the height of COVID, I managed to travel to Europe from Russia. After almost three months of traveling, my friends invited me to visit them in France. I took an early train from Milan, and as I got closer to the border, a very handsome Frenchman sat next to me. Getting seriously hungry, I started searching for food. That’s when he turned to me, fluttered his gorgeous eyelashes, and offered me some tomatoes. Even though we both were wearing masks, I fell in love instantly. We chatted all the way to Paris, where I spent most of my time not with my friends, but with him.”
“I moved to Paris in January 2021 because a lot of French people had come into my life, and I was inspired by that. I lived with two Parisians in my flat in Hamburg, and had also met a French guy who was … inspiring. He was my muse for quite a while, you can see it in my paintings, I think. For one year? And then it changed [laughs]. But yeah, he also told me, ‘Oh wow, you have a lot of talent, you should do something with it.’ And the art scene here is so nice! It’s a totally different place than Hamburg.”
“For me it was a really difficult decision, but I had no life in my country because me, I am gay. After the Presidential election, I decided to move because this system of Lukashenko’s is not a democracy. They destroy people who are against them and they started to put people In prison. For me it was impossible to stay there. So I just left everything, and since 2021 « aout » I am here. I started in July with new papers—literally a new page in my life. I can tell you it’s not easy, like for everyone who arrives in France it’s not easy. But I chose freedom, I chose my life. I chose to be free.”
“In 2020, I found the YouTube channel of a Latvian girl who had moved to France to study, and watching her videos I fell in love with the French language. At the time I had a boyfriend doing a Bachelor’s in Russia and I told him, ‘Okay, you will do your Master’s in France because I want to go.’ So he got here and helped me get my Student visa. But when I came in 2022, I really missed home. So we broke up and I went back to Russia. After a while, I felt trapped and realized I wanted to go back to study in Paris, and here I am. [Laughs] It’s a stupid story, but well, that’s how it happened.”
“I came to France because my Master’s studies were in sustainable design. After two years of living in Lyon, I decided, you know what, I’m moving to Paris. I decided to take French classes to better learn the language, and yeah, I would like to stay here—I’m PACS’d I have to stay here [laughs]! I once heard the saying, “The graveyard is a place with most hopes and dreams that have never been fulfilled.” I don’t want to be another dream that has never been fulfilled. I want to make a change. So I hope that my stars fall in place. You know, like Kim Kardashian after her sex tape [laughs].”
“I came to France because of fashion and my sexuality. Bangladesh is not open for LGBTQ+ people, and it’s my decision who I love. I tried to get out for many years, but it was difficult. I applied for a French visa twice, but was rejected. Also, my relatives tried to make me stay and work in our family textile business. They knew if I moved abroad I wasn’t coming back. I applied a third time when I was in Istanbul for a Master’s program, but COVID hit. Then I applied a fourth time in 2020, and … yes, finally! [Laughs] So I came and it was like ‘Emily in Paris.’ There was a small reality check learning the language, but now I’m enjoying my life. I’m free now. I’m a free bird.”