Life continues to go well over here in France, and it just keeps getting busier! I haven’t had a free weekend since I was in Tunisia. I really couldn’t be happier or luckier with the way things have turned out for me this year. I have a wonderful host family, and I live in a special town here in France, Verdun, known as the World Center of Peace.

I’ve also had the opportunity to do some traveling which has been great. In mid April, I went to Barcelona for one week with my French high school, and I had an excellent time. Barcelona is a beautiful city, and I know I will return there someday. From Gaudi’s architecture, to the Picasso Museum and the Rablas, you can really keep yourself entertained. I stayed in the suburbs of Barcelona with a “host family” (it was actually an 80 year old lady) and she was very interesting. She was a Spanish protestant, originally from the Basque country in Northern Spain. She was certainly for the independence of the Basque region, and she wouldn’t say that she was Spanish. It was interesting seeing her point of view, even though we had problems understanding each other. I spoke a little Spanish, and she spoke a little French, and we did our best. Although, I will admit I was frustrated at time when she was criticizing the United States a lot in Spanish, about the War in Iraq, and our treatment of the Native Americans, and I couldn’t respond at all because I don’t speak enough Spanish.

After I got back from Spain I jumped right into a one week conference at the World Center of Peace in my city. It was called the RYLA and it was hosted by the Rotary. The theme of the conference was Europe and its future. Where will Europe be in 20 years? The first three days different speakers came in to talk about different subjects such as the current structure of Europe, agriculture, the weakness of the European Union, cultural exchanges, protecting minorities, healthcare, sustainable development, foreign aide, and many other interesting subjects. I was impressed by the quality of the speakers.

I also had a great time with the other 40 youth there, from 14 different nations around the world. There were some excellent thinkers, and it was great to here their ideas about the future of Europe. We also had a great time together outside of the conference, and we bonded well together. I was lucky enough to be able to celebrate my 19th birthday with this great group of young people, and they decided to sing happy birthday for me in 8 different languages (English, French, Polish, Hungarian, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese and German!) It was such a powerful moment. And we spent a great night together.

We finished up the conference on a Friday where we presented our ideas of Europe in 2026. It was quite interesting, and it was certainly complicated. But we had the general sentiment of a Europe even more united. And to wrap up the week, we had an excellent talent show where I impersonated President Bush, and a French friend impersonated Jacques Chirac. It was quite funny. The two presidents were seated in a café together talking about relation between the two countries.

After the conference ended, I took a break for a couple days and I caught some much need sleep. Then I took off for Nancy, Metz, and Paris. I had a great time in Nancy and Metz and I had some really stimulating conversations with some very interesting people. I also went to and Indian restaurant for the first time in months. It was so good.
Paris was nice as well, and I was lucky enough to get a guided tour of the George V hotel. I also visited the Orsay Museum, and the Panthéon. It was beautiful on Sunday, so I got the opportunity to walk around a lot as well.

I just got back home today, and I’m already starting another conference at the World Center of Peace in Verdun. I am a translator and a participant in a Peace Class, Classe de la Paix, where 6 Israelis and 5 Palestinians have come together to view what took place in Verdun, and to have conversations about the conflict in their region. I started translating tonight, and I certainly have a lot of work to do this week. This is the first time I have ever translated in a formal situation, but I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it. I am translating French into English. I am lucky to be able to witness this powerful activity, and I more than glad to help out. The class is here in Verdun to show the youth the conflicts and reconciliation between Germany and France. Two countries that went to war with each other 3 times in 75 years, that have become friendly neighbors with the largest economic relationship in Europe. Of course there are different circumstances, but the theme of peace is certainly present. I am very interested to see where this class goes, and I will be sure to post another entry about it!

Take care!


Trévor