Ivan’s Journals

June 2, 2026

On tour

Coming to see all the changes within myself through these experiences has been a journey in and of itself. The biggest takeaway from this trip has been the personal growth I've done. This is one of the reasons why this exchange program is so great and supported globally. For example, gaining different perspectives from my host families and society helped me rethink my priorities and reflections. I won’t lie—exchanges are not meant to be easy—but the challenges of adapting to new situations have increased my flexibility. Having lived in different life contexts, I value where I come from and who I am, while being able to sympathize with a wider variety of people. Here, I have to give thanks to my family, friends and Rotarians for helping me on the matter.

Something great about daily life here has been the e-bikes. I noticed them a while ago but had never tried riding one before. They are rentable, and usually, the first few minutes are free. Thanks to their speed, you're guaranteed to get to your destination while enjoying the experience. I would definitely advise future exchange students to use them since the road safety is secure due to bike lanes and smaller cars.

The only downside to the bikes is the potential for rain here. The Breton locals say there are four seasons in a day, and it’s true. The weather can be any variety of rain (sprinkling, hard, drizzling), sunny, cloudy, windy, cool, etc. Or even a combination of the above. However, they also say it only rains on idiots, referring to how foreigners always complain about the weather. Another thing about the locals I have learned here is their love of salted butter. I discovered that the reason behind this is actually thanks to the lack of salt taxes imposed by the French kings, as Brittany was once self-governed. They even had a parliament in Rennes, which I was able to visit. Rennes also hosts a considerable student population and a few universities.

Among the universities found in Rennes is Sciences Po, which I was able to visit and get a guide on by some students and the help of a rotarian. After the tour, I learned about an upcoming Model United Nations event hosted by the university, which fitted in nicely with the international politics focus of the Sciences Po system.

Eventually, the Eurotrip came around and with it new friends and travels. For those who don't know, the Eurotrip is a bus trip through Europe. Since we were paired with another Rotary district, I made friends with a few other exchange students. The whole experience is basically a 10-day road trip with some of your best friends and other rowdy teenagers as you see places you never imagined. Everyone is sleep-deprived, but only because of the late nights spent bonding. We all met at the Paris train station to tour the city, and before we knew it, we were off. We would go on to visit Germany, Czechia, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland.

Going through Strasbourg, we viewed the city by boat, encountering ancient half-timbered houses with white walls reflected in the Rhine river and later the European Parliament and Court. My only regret was not trying the local specialty, Choucroute. Next, we traveled to Munich. What struck me most about Germany was the people's kindness. You can see it in their smiles and eyes—how genuinely they want to help you. At least, that was the impression I got from the Bavarians, the region of Germany we were in. While in the city, we visited the famous beer gardens used during Oktoberfest and the BMW Museum, which houses a timeline collection of cars and a collector’s selection of motorcycles. 

A day later and with a couple of hours of sleep, we found ourselves in Prague just in time for my birthday. The red roofs and creamy white walls of the buildings gave the city a majestic, timeless appearance. Most impressive of all was crossing into the old city center via the Old Town Bridge, which divides the city and leads to the ancient church. Despite the language barrier, my Slovak friend saved us since Czech and Slovak are apparently part of the same language family. Again off we went down to Vienna. If Prague was made for scenic relaxation, Vienna was an old center of power. Visiting the Belvedere Palace and other landmarks, one could see the imposing architecture harkening back to the Habsburg Empire, with Vienna as its capital. The best part was renting bicycles and riding through the city in our free time without a destination in mind—just enjoying the journey and the soft breezes.

Entering Italy, the mountains rose and then fell. Their green grandeur was magnificent and comforting to the tiny villages below. We visited Venice and saw the canals while riding on a gondola. Upon arriving at Lido di Jesolo, a small town by the beach, we soaked in the Italian sunshine and beautiful beaches. Unfortunately we weren't able to swim due to group safety precautions. One of the trip’s highlights was a boat ride on Lago di Garda. The day was warm, the water was clear, and the mountains were cold and white, encasing the lake. In Milan, we saw the gigantic Basilica.

The best is always saved for last, and in this case, it was Geneva. The Swiss never fail to amaze, whether it’s their people, transportation, government, or scenery. For starters, the enormous concentration of wealth and power in a city of that size is staggering. What I found most touching was the social and cultural intellect of the people. Our tour guide explained that one in seven residents are millionaires, but how the resulting cost of living was, sadly, crushing for the city’s poor and lower classes.

Heading back to Paris and speaking the now familiar language, we said our goodbyes, knowing we would be welcome if one day we visited each other's countries. And just like that, it was over. Coming back to life in Landerneau, I switched host families. Now, I have three host siblings and one of my teachers as my host mom. (Commuting to and from school is easier than ever.) I’m thankful for the frequent weekend outings to the beach, where the family visits my host grandma and relaxes.

Finally, I visited Paris several times, attending a Rotary district weekend and visiting the Senate. On the latter trip, we started by walking down the Champs-Élysées to reach the Arc de Triomphe. There, we found the French version of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before making our way to the Eiffel Tower following a boat ride along the Seine. The next day, we visited the Montmartre Basilica and got a breathtaking view of Paris. To conclude the weekend, we quickly walked through the famous glass pyramids outside the Louvre. My second visit came after my Senator came to our school. I was able to arrange an outing to see her at the Senate and learn about the French legislative system. To my delight, I was invited to attend a live Senate session featuring several ministers as well. 

In the end life is about the journey and not the destination. Otherwise it’ll disappear quickly and without meaning. In this case I make the most of my life here through things like small lessons appreciating different insights or calm weekend mornings with my host family. That’s it for me, salut.