I realize it's been a while since I last took the time to write about my adventures, I'm afraid that regular blogging apparently isn't quite my cup of tea. That's not to say I haven't done anything worth writing about! Every day in Paris there's always something to see and do! This week, however, was very eventful, and I thought it would be nice to share it.
While I've already been in France for over one and a half months, most people in my program at Air Liquide (IIP) only arrived 2 weeks ago. On Tuesday and Wednesday we participated in a seminar that introduced us to the different departments of the company and gave us all a chance to really get to know each other.
The International Internship Program is made up of 23 students from around the world, including Brazil, Turkey, Russia, Austria, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and South Korea, with many others. These are some of the friendliest people I've ever met, and we've already spent quite a bit of time getting to know each other at picnics, parties, and other outings.
The seminar admittedly started off very early in the morning and somewhat slowly, with a general introduction to the company. I wasn't complaining though, not when we were given meals for free!
It's the little things that count.
The afternoon was much more interesting for me because we visited a research centre, the CRCD, where we were presented technical details of the company's research in topics such as combustion, air separation, health, and modeling. Okay, I know this doesn't interest everyone, but hey, I'm an engineer after all! I think we were all exhausted after that first day.
The second day was more interesting, with presentations given by HR and other employees. In the afternoon we worked on a team building project where we had to explore a small zone in Paris and take photos of applications of Air Liquide's products. We then had to present our findings. I think what surprised me the most was how you could find AL products virtually everywhere, which I found to be really impressive. Electronic chips, welding, medicinal gases, and packaged foods are just a few examples. Even Coca-Cola gets their carbon dioxide for carbonation from Air Liquide. I'm convinced: this is a great company that I would be proud to work for!
The evening was the highlight of the night. We enjoyed a free quality meal at at traditional French restaurant, complete with 4 courses and plenty of wine (with which they never stopped refilling my wine glass!). With good company, good food, and a pianist charming us throughout the night, it was a great way to end the day. And yet, the final surprise came at the end, when we all gave a short speech to the rest of the group in our native language and then translated it to English. It was a heartfelt moment, and there's something very special about hearing over twenty different languages, some that I had never heard before! It was a truly multicultural experience that I will never forget.
The fun didn't stop there though! Thursday was a holiday, the fête nationale de France, or Bastille day, which celebrates the beginning of the French revolution in 1789. We were lucky enough to see the military parade along the Champs-Élysées, complete with elaborate costumes, a big band, swords, bayonets, machine guns, tanks, artillery, a spectacular military air show, and of course an appearance by the French president Nicholas Sarkozy! Not many people get the chance to be in Paris on July 14, and so it really was a unique experience.
We later met up with other friends and headed out to the Champs de Mars to camp out for the fireworks at the Eiffel Tower. Let me tell you, I've seen many fireworks shows in my life, but nothing quite compares to seeing them silhouetted by the Tower itself. Amazing.
And so that brings me to this weekend, which has ended the week fantastically. I'm now on a train back from Normandy, which coincidentally, is celebrating its 1100th birthday. That's hundreds of years older than anything man-made in Canada. I'll let that sink in! It's pretty cool.
I visited Mont St-Michel, an enormous fortress built on a mountain on the ocean just off the mainland. It's been used as a church, fortress, prison, and pilgrimage site over that last millennium. It also looks exactly like you'd imagine a castle to be like, with a village at the walls, a drawbridge, stone construction, gothic architecture, and a beautiful labyrinth to explore. It was a stunning visit and I'll post photos soon.
I stayed the night in Bayeux, 2 hours by train from the Mont, in, of all things, a charming 17th century hostel. I've been in many hostels during my travels in Australia, but nothing like this. I had the entire room to myself, and an all you can eat breakfast with all the staples. For only 21 euros, I'd recommend anyone to stay there! It was also by coincidence that I happened to pass by a gorgeous Notre-Dame cathedral lit up with coloured lights, and just across from it, a “light and sound” show projected on the entire length of a white building. The show celebrated Normandy and the history of Bayeux. You know, this is one of the reasons why I love travelling so much; you never know what you might come across.
My last stop was Omaha Beach, where American infantry and their allies landed in 1944 to fight Nazi Germany and free France from it's tyrants. My walk through the cemetery's field of crosses and along the beach left me feeling emotional and in awe at the sacrifice of the soldiers of the time. I've come to really appreciate what they did, as it was due to their courage and deeds that the free world exists today.
Life in France is anything but boring, and this week shows just how exciting this internship and country can be. I’m having a great time here and am looking forward to the second half of my stay here, with new adventures to be had!
Cheers,
Sean
