“When I was 18 years old, I left the south of France with my sister and her husband to open a restaurant in Bali. It’s called the Dusty Café,” Floriane explained. “We also created a fashion label, Bali Sensasi. While I was living in Bali, I met a New Zealand man who later became my husband. For a few years, we lived in Singapore together. I worked remotely and flew back to Bali every few weeks to look after business there.”

“From Singapore, we moved to Sydney, and that’s when I decided to study acupuncture. In France, I saw an acupuncturist who changed my life. I wanted to learn all about it. A Sydney real estate agent showing us a property told me about Endeavour and its Open Day, so we went. The atmosphere was great, and I could see myself there. I also looked at another school but decided on Endeavour. It was a good decision,” Floriane said.

“My Endeavour cohort is like a family. We spend a lot of time together, studying and supporting each other. The teachers are supportive too. They listen and help as much as possible. As an international student, I was scared of the language. In the beginning, I studied from when I got up to when I went to bed. I didn’t want to fall behind. I didn’t need to put so much pressure on myself. It’s doable – even if English is not your mother language. Two years into my degree, I’m fine. I just can’t talk about acupuncture in French because I learn it in English,” Floriane laughed.

While Floriane started her degree full-time, she moved to part-time studies last year. Soon after getting married in Sydney, she returned to France for six months. Her dad had been diagnosed with ALS, a rapid neurological disease. “It was very difficult to travel with COVID-19 restrictions and be away from my husband for so long. I continued some of my Endeavour subjects that I could do online. Now that I’m back in Sydney, I’m looking forward to getting back into the student clinic – it’s the best way to learn.”

While she studies, Floriane works in a fertility clinic as an assistant and receptionist. “It’s fascinating to see this modern clinic in action. Some people still think Traditional Chinese Medicine is only practised by old Chinese men in dark rooms that smell of moxa. That’s so far from modern practice. I'm already working hard to help change that stereotype by sharing my knowledge on Instagram.”