Dev’s journey from India to Dubai through LA

Welcome back,

Continuing the FIDM route after three episodes I am talking to a very special person in today’s episode, hope you will like it.

Let me introduce you to my next guest Devyani, she is a beautiful soul, incredibly talented and most importantly a big foodie.
We have met during our time at FIDM, shared many adventures during those months in California and soon after the first meetings I considered her my Indian sister and that hasn’t changed since.

Devyani started her study abroad journey with an exchange semester in Sweden in 8^th grade. Then after high school, she attended Pearl Academy in Delhi, India as a Fashion Designer. During her BA she did an exchange semester at FIDM LA in 2018 Spring. After graduating from her university in Delhi Dev started working full time as a Fashion Designer in Dubai while working on her own Graphic Design Business on the side.

Tell me about your university journey and how you ended up in Dubai!
D: After finishing high school I knew I wanted to do something creative but wasn’t sure what exactly was my calling. I took up Fashion Design at Pearl Academy in Delhi, India. Since it was known to be the most intensive course at uni, it would keep various doors open career-wise and was also the course I was most attracted to.
In my second year at uni, I went to Kerala and stayed in a small town with artisans and studied their handicrafts. The following year I went to LA to do a semester abroad. Just a couple of days after I returned I went to Bombay for a month for an inter-course workshop. After a long and beautiful journey, I graduated in May 2019 and was determined to find a job abroad as I believed it would make the experience so much richer and the learning so much deeper. I moved to Dubai in August 2019 and since then have been working as a Graphic and Fashion Designer!

The usual question, when did you first start thinking about studying abroad and why?
D: I’ve always been a curious child. I love to explore and discover the unseen. The desire to expand my horizons allows me to constantly evolve. At a relatively young age, in 8th grade to be precise, I got the opportunity to apply for an exchange program to Sweden, and I jumped right at it. It was such a wholesome experience, till date I remember everything vividly. The love for studying or working abroad and travelling in general only grew from there.

Was it common in your high school or university to go on exchange?
D: In my high school, we were part of a community called CISV, Children’s International Summer Village, which allowed us to apply for exchange programs. In my university, we had an option to study abroad in our 6th semester. I did have the opportunities but they weren’t as common as I would’ve liked them to be.

What do you mean by that, would you have wanted to go more time, or do you think more people should have the opportunity?
D: Both. They aren’t as readily available. Exchange programs offer you the same education you would get at your home school and so much more. If there were more opportunities available, I would’ve definitely grabbed them!

When you decided to go for an exchange semester during your time at Pearl Academy, did you choose the country or university what was the thought process?
D: When the exchange opportunity was announced only the universities and countries were mentioned, choosing the courses was the second step in the application process. When I saw LA on the list, I knew this was it. I focused on my choice of the city cause I feel it accounts for a major part of your experience. More than your time in the classroom, what makes the most impact is who and what surrounds you. A dynamic and diverse city like LA seemed the most promising for an enriching experience and in hindsight, it was one of my best decisions!

What was the application process like when you applied, was it hard to earn the spot for the exchanges?

D: Yes. Both the times I was nominated based on my academic performance and had to go through a selection process, which included a formal application followed by an interview. For the exchange program to Sweden, the counsellors even visited my house to assess the home and family environment since the format required my Swedish partner to live at my house with my family for 1.5 months!

Other interviewees were able to get various scholarships or financial support for their study abroad experiences, did you get support from your school or government?
D: I would’ve appreciated that, but it wasn’t the case. My parents provided financial support.

What was the most difficult part of your exchange, was it the preparation before, during your time there or after returning home?
D: Interestingly it was the time after the exchange. I had an extremely memorable experience in LA. I had 4 more beautiful human beings with me on the exchange, who were complete strangers to me but soon became family, including the author of this blog. We shared the same spirit and enthusiasm to make the most of our experience. From taking part in university activities to going on a new adventure every weekend. It was overwhelming. So of course, when I returned it took me some time to settle.

So it took some time to settle after returning. Did you, however, feel like you had advantages compared to the rest of your class because you had different courses then the student at home and due to your experience abroad that could boost your creativity and design process?
D: Yes it took some time, but it wasn’t hard to return. I had an amazing time at FIDM but I was excited to go back and finish my degree.
There was an added perspective to things. I intentionally opted for one class that was not based on fashion but art in general, I loved that class. We had open-ended discussions where we would share our opinions and interpretations. Students expressed their thoughts freely; the environment was so comfortable and liberal. Apart from that my group of friends was so diverse. We used to have some of the most interesting conversations.
The other classes taught me some new skills and I gained knowledge and developed better interpersonal skills. The entire experience was wholesome and refreshing. As creative people, I feel we derive inspiration from our experiences and emotions, and our work becomes an extension and a reflection of our values and views. The exchange was definitely a substantial experience that enhanced my outlook overall but I wouldn’t say it directly impacted my design process since that is more personal and individualistic.

I have talked a lot about integration in earlier episodes, regarding local students merging with exchanges and other international students. Did you feel you were treated any differently because you were an exchange?
D: No, not really. I was in a city that celebrates diversity and FIDM as an institution is extremely warm and welcoming. Everyone around us was respectful and kind. In fact, they made an extra effort to make sure we were comfortable at all times and I really appreciated that!

How did your semester abroad differ from your normal school life?
D: Both were quite different from each other. The format at FIDM was more flexible. You could choose the classes you wanted to take in the semester. Students also had the option to choose their class timings. That makes the whole process more convenient and accommodating for everyone, and also allows you to focus on your personal growth.

Are there any other differences between the two education systems or teaching styles between India and the US?
D: Higher education abroad is more flexible and adjusting that allows the student to flourish but doesn’t necessarily challenge them. Higher education in India is more rigid and standardized that pushes all students towards excellence but doesn’t cater to individual needs. I feel both can learn from each other and strike a balance to enable students to maximize their potential.

What is one thing you have learnt during your study abroad experience?
D: The busiest people have enough time to do everything. Since I had limited time and wanted to seize every moment, I made it happen. There were no compromises.

Do you think about studying further and continuing your education?
D: As of now, I have no plans. I feel right now I’m happier getting my hands dirty and learning from real-life experiences. If I do consider doing a full degree, it would definitely be in Business.

What was the point of the exchange semester for you?
D: It was about personal growth for me. I love to explore the possibilities around me, and the potential within me. In 8^th grade, in Sweden, I had an exciting time but towards the end, I became quite homesick even though I had my classmates with me, also because I was younger. As I grew up, I started valuing the vast cultural spectrum of the world so much more. Everyone’s “normal” can be different in every aspect of life, I find that absolutely amazing. There is so much we need to unlearn. Fast-forward to LA, I stayed there for a longer period and made friends like family, and even went for a solo trip to NYC! Now I have been living independently in Dubai for almost a year. My flatmates are from Tunisia, Egypt, and Ukraine! It’s an incredible experience and I learn new things every day.

Now you are working full time in Dubai and managing your own business on the side. Were you thinking about working abroad before your exchange or the semester abroad sparked the idea?
D: I always try to challenge my comfort zone and seek opportunities and experiences that help me grow. In school and uni, I took every chance I got to have an experience that wasn’t necessarily required. It was always about self-growth. I feel being in a new city and having so much to explore around me really adds to my energy personally that is why I opted for working abroad.

Was it easier to adapt and settle down in Dubai after you have already experienced living abroad

“alone”?

D: It definitely helped. The confidence that you gain in being self-reliant empowers you and stays with you. You learn to take care of yourself and it teaches you life skills that help you adapt better to new circumstances and situations. Having lived in Sweden and LA exposed me to vastly different cultures from my home country. I love to embrace and adapt to new cultures and imbibe what I love about them! Living alone teaches you a lot about yourself and the world. You become more aware, accepting, empathetic, and independent.

Do you think your study abroad experience boost your employability when you were looking for a job after graduation?
D: I think so. Study abroad is an extremely enriching experience. Living in a foreign country, connecting with people from different backgrounds, and learning personal and professional skills along the way. All that experience holds a lot of value. It shows your independence, adaptability and cultural diversity. However, I can’t say it boosts your employability in general since it depends on so many other factors and the individual job requirements.

And now onto our last question of the episode, do you think you’ll stay in Dubai for a longer time, considering other countries to explore or are you thinking about returning home, what are your plans for the future?
D: I don’t have a plan and I don’t think I need to. My goal is to maintain balance between professional growth and personal well-being. So where I go next depends on a lot of factors at that point in time such as my state of mind, goals at the time, professional opportunities, and personal priorities. I do know I want to explore more countries, but we’ll have to wait and find out how I do that!

Readers’ Mail:

Time for readers’ mail, don’t forget to submit your questions in the comment, there are still a few episodes coming your way where you can get an answer for your questions.
Margherita was intrigued by Ben’s one shoe rule in an earlier post and wanted to know more packing tips, so I asked Dev, the girl who went to LA with one suitcase to reveal her secret about how to pack the “perfect semester abroad” suitcase:
D: That’s an important one! Well, think MINIMAL! Think of various ways you can style the same clothes so you carry minimal and only essentials! That also allows room to bring back all the souvenirs you want! Don’t carry too many snacks from home cause you’d probably want to explore the food in the city you’re in! And definitely don’t carry any of your prized possessions with you so you can be as carefree as possible.

That concludes the interview with Dev, the girl from India who conquered the world through LA to Dubai. I have included some of her amazing work from her graduation collection if you would like to know more or follow her journey make sure to check out her Instagram @devyanidhingra  or her studio’s website Ofish Studio.

See you on the next one,

Eszter