2017
Deauville Internship - As told by Aaron Botts
When someone asks me
where I come from it is often a difficult question to answer. My parents met in
Nouakchott, Mauritania – a country on the west coast of Africa – where my
father was an embassy guard through the Marine Corps and my mother taught
English at a local university through the Peace Corps. When they returned and
wed in the United States my father was still in the marines and, due to his
job, we moved around very frequently never settling down in a place for more
than 3 or 4 years. As a result of this nomadic or military lifestyle, I have
become accustomed to living in various cultures and states across the United
States. When my parents decided to settle down in my father’s hometown of Mt.
Sterling, Kentucky, it might have been the biggest culture shock of all. I
would, and still do, spend most of my time, close to eight years now, in the
central Kentucky area but that has never stopped my desire to see the world.
Before being apart of
the Lexington Sister Cities Deauville Internship Program, I had traveled to
Europe once on a quick 10 day trip through London, Paris, Florence, Assisi, and
Rome after graduating from high school. The trip was an eye opening experience
and really challenged the way I perceived the world. I had learned Spanish in
high school but I never had a fulfilling moment while learning or using it. It
was on the trip to Europe where I saw a variety of cultures and languages and I
knew I needed to learn another language. There were many languages to choose
from but it was Paris which dazzled me with culture and I had been blown away
by the life that existed in the city. I was in awe of the people, the
architecture, and the lifestyle so when I enrolled in college I immediately
decided to enroll in a French class. I had a natural calling to go back and
return with some knowledge of the French language but this time as a “local.”
I had been vaguely familiar with what a Sister City was when I looked at study
abroad programs during my college application process. I planned on studying
abroad but I never thought a Sister City program would actually place me
overseas somewhere. It was two fraternity brothers who had previously
participated in the Sister Cities Deauville Internship Program who reached out,
guided me, and encouraged me to take part in the program. When I opened
my email one day and found I had an opportunity to work abroad I
enthusiastically replied “yes”. And little did I know what to expect.
Stepping off the plane
was the first big culture shock I experienced. Just thinking, “Holy crap, I’m
actually halfway across the world right now…” really put things into
perspective. I was in a whole new culture with a language I sort of had a grasp
of, and now I had to make it to a rural village without knowing how to use the
rail system. However, despite all of this – the numerous “repetez, si vous
plait”s and “excusez moi, où est-ce que je vais?”’s I made it to
Villers-sur-Mer and found myself in bed alone wondering, quite literally, what
in the world I had gotten myself into.
The first week was hard,
as it would be on anyone, but I decided to take small steps towards a stable
life in France. I had to eat, so I bought groceries and survived. I had to do
laundry, so I spent an hour learning how to work both the washer and dryer in
French, and with semi damp cloths (the dryers don’t actually dry they just
lessen the wetness) I survived. I needed to mail some post cards, so I found
out how much it cost to send to the U.S. After all of these seemingly
insignificant journeys and accomplishments, I realized I had gotten groceries,
cooked meals, and learned how to mail things. I found out how to live. These
small victories of learning how to live have helped overcome all major
setbacks. They taught me there is no major revelation into a language, it is a smaller
step by step process of becoming adjusted to living that everyone has to
experience.
My French certainly has
improved, but, more importantly, my implementation of French has increased
drastically. I find myself using the actual French expression and connotation
rather than just the English denotative equivalent. It has been hard to wrap a
mind around a “new language” but that is exactly what it is. A new language. A
new way of thinking, and quite literally a new way to think about the world.
While my understanding certainly has improved one should know the regional
dialects play a big part into languages in France just as they do in the U.S.
That may perhaps be the biggest improvement as well as setback – learning to
think locally but communicate globally.
You have moments of
profound brilliance upon learning a new language and you are easily able to
tell people follow what you are talking about. Then you’ll have profound
moments of stupidity where you can see the expression on their face goes to one
of, “What the heck is he talking about?” Someone will always be there to help
you, but the greatest victory and learning in the language comes through
immersion.
I work at a museum
called Paléospace l’Odyssée - a paleontology museum exhibiting a wide range of
scientific topics. Throughout time, Villers-sur-Mer has been submerged in the
ocean, covered by a marsh, and the cliffs are testaments to the ancient aquatic
life that used to live here. The museum holds exhibitions on Mammoths, the
Greenwhich Meridian (which runs through Villers-sur-Mer), fossils and plant
life, and dinosaurs that were all once native to the Normandy region.
Additionally, they hosts workshops such as mini rocket ship building and a
presentation on satellites in the night sky. My job at Paléospace is fairly
simple; most of the time I work on translating documents. The translations are
fairly simple - take this in French and turn it into English - but I have been
working on translating videos, brochures, informational pamphlets, and I’ve
occasionally helped an English shopper. During my “down time” I participate in
guided tours for the general public and assist children in educational
workshops on dinosaurs and flora and fauna life in the marsh.
However, there have been
times where travel has been a part of my work, like going to Cherbourg to
collect microscopes or participating in educational workshops along the
Vaches-Noires Cliffs next to Villers-sur-Mer. But it is more than the work that
makes this place enjoyable. The people, the conversation, and the enthusiasm is
rare to find anywhere else, a place like this can make one content; where else
can you call taking a walk through a preserved habitat or helping launch mini
rockets work?
One of the original
aspects of the internships here was supposed to be translating for a ferry
service from the United Kingdom to France but I found out recently the program
had been terminated. “Porqoui est le program terminé?” I had asked my boss. He
shrugged unknowingly, “Brexit.”
I have been fortunate
enough to meet a variety of people while in Villers-sur-Mer. All the people I
work with have adopted me as their own and made it a point that I feel included
as well as taken care of while I live here. Where I reside, there are numerous
people who have made this place feel like a home with a warm compassion that
some so seldom find. And, more importantly, Philippe Behuet of the Deauville
Sister Cities program has generously loaned me his bike for the summer to
travel, to work, and to become accustomed to life while in France.
There is a considerable
amount of free time. Most often, the weekends are the laziest and slowest days,
but this makes travel all the more appealing. I have been able to travel
frequently during my time here by using a bike and the train system in France.
Biking through the
Normandy region is quite pleasant, drivers cautiously avoid those riding bikes
and there are many paths just for cyclists all through the Normandy region. On
a weekend in June, I attempted to take my bike from Villers-Sur-Mer to Omaha
beach and through the Normandy countryside for a unique trip but was ran off
the road by a car close to Port-en-Bessin-Huppain. With a flat tire, I then had
to walk (with the bike) to Bayeux where I waited on a train back to Deauville.
Then, once back in Deauville, I had to walk back to Villers-sur-Mer (yes, I
biked and walked close to 90km that day).
After repairing the bike
I waited a few weeks before I again embarked on a return journey to Omaha beach.
I decided to go the same way – by bike – and this time I luckily made it.
Visiting the grave site and beach was a very touching journey. It is definitely
a trip everyone visiting the region should make because words cannot describe
the serene grave site juxtaposed by the scars of war and concrete bunkers that
are still visible today.
I’ve visited London for
3 days to visit a family and personal friend. I saw, “The Woman in Black,” on
the West End, met someone who works on visual effects for all of Christopher
Nolan’s films and a famous acting teacher, went to a pub crawl and had a roast
(a typical event and dining experience Brits do on Sunday’s), and listened to
some music at a pub. The weekend was jam packed but I feel like I saw so much
of London in one weekend. I even met someone who has a really good friend who
lives in Mt. Sterling. Seeing the non-tourist side of London was extremely
different but I think I enjoyed it all the more. I saw the true London, the
non-tourist side of London open for those who actually live there and like
living in Villers-sur-Mer, it is only after you live in an area do you truly
appreciate the livelihood it has to offer.
There have been many
other places I’ve visited but one of the places that stands out the most is
Mont Canisy, an old German artillery battery overlooking the bay of Houlgate,
the Villers-sur-Mer area, Deauville, and Le Havre. The view from atop the hill
is simply extraordinary.
I’ve also happened to
venture into Paris fairly frequently from time to time and just walk around the
city and take in its rich culture. I’ve walked to the top of Montmartre to the
Notre Dame and stopped everywhere in between taking in the sights and sounds of
such a unique city. I’ve even gotten my portrait drawn and bought some local
artwork.
In addition to travel,
the people you live and work with will most likely got out of their way to make
you feel comfortable. There have been numerous times I have come home from work
to find some housemates drinking wine to which they’ll say, “Come join us!” One
night they even asked if I would play my guitar for them and they loved it.
Then, they asked me to learn a song – Champs Elyséeys by Joe Dessin. The next
night, when I sang the song they all joined in (it turns out the song was one
the French adore about as much as Americans adore Don’t Stop Believing).
There have also been times at work where the workers will ask me, “What are you
doing for this evening?” and when I say nothing their reply is, “Well, come to
beach and picnic with us and watch the sunset!”
I have been grateful for
all the “free time” I have had, but what you do with your free time is your
choice and you certainly choose what you make of it.
If you have to think
twice about going somewhere with someone you are familiar with, the best choice
is to just go. I personally use the phrase, “Porqoui pas?/Why not?” It just
might lead to you being out and about at 3:28 A.M. in Deauville on a Monday
night…
Never hesitate to say,
“Repetez, si vous plait?” if you don’t understand something the first time.
Just be sure ask the phrase with a warm smile. More often than not you’ll
meet someone in France who speaks French as well as English. While it may be
easier for both of you to just talk through it in English, nothing feels better
than learning how to do something or where to go in a foreign language. Work
for it, strive to become better, and try to become fluent – you can only get
there if you try. It is a difficult but rewarding road.
One unique aspect I have
noticed while speaking French is that they don’t have a concept word for home -
or at least not one used similarly in English. Back home the word encompasses a
variety of connotations and denotations that work in many circumstances but we
seldom realize what it really means. A home is a place you live, a place you
work, a place you study, a place where you grow, a place where you make
friends, a place where you make memories, a place where you feel an innate
feeling of comfortability, a place of trial, a place of error, a place where
you overcome many of life’s obstacles, a place where the difficulty of living
melts away, a place where the food you eat and air you breath tastes as good as
sleep you get on any given night, and a place where an image and feeling is
forever ingrained in your memory and soul because it is your own – an
image and feeling not often duplicated. And I am grateful to now have and
be able to call Villers-sur-Mer a home.
The
view of sunrise and sunset from my room ~home~.
I encourage
anyone wanting to apply for Sister Cities Deauville Internship Program to do
so. Why would you not? You have a chance to grow, learn a new language, and
delve into your own sense of self to become who you are so few others get to
do. It is not a typical study abroad experience, but a living abroad experience
that shapes who you are for the rest of your life.
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