Joanna always knew she wanted to study abroad, so when an opportunity to apply for a semester in Paris came up in 2015, she jumped at the chance. “I was at Manchester university studying politics and international relations,” she says. “Paris looked really good. I could go to an English-speaking university and the city seemed fun. It would be a totally different experience.”
Her application was successful and, just before Christmas, she met up with six other students who would also be travelling to France. Among them was Sarah, who was studying the same course. “I’d never planned to study abroad, but I thought it sounded exciting,” says Sarah, who adds that she clicked instantly with Joanna. “I’d seen her around before, but we’d never spoken. She had a similar vibe to me. We decided we’d take the risk of living together in Paris, even though we didn’t know each other.”
