Hello Everyone
This post is about my journey to a foreign land that is France which undoubtedly is amongst the one I will cherish forever.
So, with a group of 18 students we started our journey from Mumbai to Barcelona on 4 March 2023. We were welcomed open heartedly at the Barcelona airport by Mr. Christophe Groell, coordinator of DEFIAA Programme and accompanied him to Lycee Agricole de Theza where we were welcomed by Mr. Sebastien Meunier, director of the institute and Mrs. Chantal Desprats, cooordinator DEFIAA Programme. We stayed at this institute for about a week for cultural integration where we interacted with different students and teachers of France, visited places like Collioure and Saint Cyprien, celebrated an Indian festival named Holi and had ample for good experiences with tasting different type of cheese, french food and overall french culture.

After this week we accompanied the DEFIAA coordinators of Lycee Agricole et agroalimantaire, Yvetot to their institute. Travelling from south of France to North of France (Normandy) through road was an good experience in itself. At the institute we had an ceremony for introduction with the coordinators, staff and some students which enhanced the excitement level for the coming weeks.The coordinators Ms. Danuta Rzewuski, Mrs. Laurence Cedeno and Ms. Isabelle Menand welcomed us open-heartedly and left no stone unturned to make us feel like family from the first day only. They provided us with every basic need for our comfortable stay and the timetable which was very exciting. They also asked our interests and made every possible efforts for incorporating our interests with the programme they have scheduled already.

During the programme I attended different lectures of Agriculture, Food Technology, English and French alongwith laboratory practicals. I did practicals in food processing, biology, microbiology, chemistry, plant pathology and Entomology. We also visited to different farms like an organic farm of a very prosperous farmer and the farm of the institute. The industrial visits organised were something which provided a great exposure and for the same we visited industries like Nexira which is an industry of acacia gum and Terre de Lin which is an industry for processing of flax. The people of industry and the faculty who accompanied us to it really need to be appreciated because they managed the visit very well and explained us everything in English. We also had an experience of learning welding and driving tractor. After learning, we managed to weld an small Eiffel tower and drive a tractor on our own which was totally a new experience for me. The one which excited me the most was the interaction sessions with the students and sharing about Indo-French culture. With different teachers and students of this institute we had discussions on various aspects of culture, education system, economy and agriculture. We presented a powerpoint presentation about India and also attended the students presentation about France. It was really a great method to learn in the short span of time.We also visited Mont Saint Aignan University and had cultural exchange with people of different age group and countries. Meanwhile, we also stayed at different institutes for two days. The first one was Bremontier Merval which is the origin place for peculiar type apple pomme, cider, calvados. The institute was renovated from a very old castle and way they are utilising the infrastructure amazed me a lot. We also went through the farm of this institute and the processing house for different products of apple. The other institute was Neufchatel en Bray which is the home of the famous European Neufchatel cheese. We were also aligned to one of the reknowned agriculture university of France named Unilasalle where I get to know about the scope of plant pathology in France, laboratorical techniques and methods, common issues etc. We also visited to primary and middle school of Normandy. The students were really inquisitive to meet us and asked about us, our college and country. I was really delighted to see the teaching methodology and activeness of teachers of these schools. So overall, academically this trip has really helped me to know agriculture in this country and what techniques we can incorporate into Indian agriculture to make it more progressive and better, learn French language and the impressive method of teaching and conducting laboratory experiments.I thank every teacher who invited us to their class, imparted knowledge to us, explained practicals and developed environment of interactive sessions with the students.

During the weekends we went with the teachers to their family and this was totally a new experience for me and definitely the best part of this trip. For the first weekend we went along with Danuta Ma’am to see her family and I cannot really express in words how welcoming they were. We did shopping, cooked French as well as Indian food, visited places like Abbey de Jumigees and made her children our new friends. It was so good that I don’t wanted the weekend to end so soon. For the next weekend we went to with Isabelle Ma’am to her home. She cooked French food for us and I was totally in love with that. We along with her children talked for hours and this was the best part. We discussed so many topics, played games, enjoyed the music, laughed so loud, went to Saint- Valery en Caux. With beautiful beach and architecture around it, I enjoyed the highest wind speed at this place. So, at any point it didn't seemed like we were with new people, it was as with our family and I am so happy for it. We also met the family members of Marie Peire Ma’am. Her family made us visit many places like Rouen, Etretat and Honfleur. Each place having its own uniqueness and history amazed me a lot. Her husband provided us with the facts which we should about the locations. At her home we tasted delicious French food and made her taste Indian food too. We also went to games carnival with her family and enjoyed a lot of games there. It was a very beautiful weekend with this sweet lady and her family. We also enjoyed dinner with Fleur Ma’am. There is no doubt that she is an amazing cook. And then there was the day when we had a road trip from Yvetot to Paris with Isabelle Ma’am and Laurence Ma’am. They made our dream come true and I would always be thankful them. We walked on the streets of Paris, visited the famous Eiffel tower, Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe etc. We also travelled in local bus as well as subway, thereby enjoying every bit of this trip. During one weekend we met the family of Emilie Ma’am and visited Le Havre, a place so rich in history and Mont Saint- Michel. Mont Saint – Michel had a totally different vibe. I have never visited any such place, it was very impressive. We also spend our weekend with family of Laurence Ma’am. We were so comfortable there, we interacted with her children and husband, cooked Indian food for them. She made us taste amazing French food and dessert. I should mention that she prepares very delicious desserts and I was in love with them. All the families were very welcoming, interactive and we had a special bonding with the family members. We also spended time with the students of institute and our new friends Marine, Lola, Eduard and Julien. They took us for bowling, restaurant, shopping etc. They also helped us in every possible way. They were really amazing and I am glad that I will see them soon in India. Moreover, I am thankful to Caroline, Inae, Robbin and Gabriel for the amazing dinner nights. And now it’s about the day which came so soon that is the last weekend. For this day our coordinators planned to have get together at home where the three coordinators alongwith me and Khaba would have lunch. It was the 2nd of April and I won’t forget this ever. We talked, laughed and enjoyed every second of this day. I have never met such sweet and kind hearted people. They are definitely like my mother. So, overall we get to know about French culture in familes and tasted appetizing French food like Raclette, Ratatouille, Lasagna, Tarts, Minnestrone, Crepe, several types of cheese and wine alongwith getting to learn about the mode of travelling like buses, subway and train by our coordinators like their own kid so that we can travel alone also is something like cherry on the top for this visit. This made us feel more confident and independent to come back to France again.

Having felicitation ceremony on 4th April in afternoon by the director of the institute alongwith lunch with all the staff of the institute, I was sad that it was our last day in Yvetot. We got so many presents from the team which will remain in my heart forever. The day ended with a farewell drink with our coordinators which I cannot stop thinking about. It was the best evening, we conversed for few hours, cherished the moments and cried. I wish I would see them soon.

I wonder how quickly the month passed! How strong bonds we have with them that farewell was making us very emotional! The smile on our face and tears of happiness in our eyes that comes whenever we tell about Yvetot to anyone! This programme made me believe inspite of differences in language, culture and what not, what matters is the way to express your feelings! It was managed so nicely that leaving from Normandy was so hurting. I love you Yvetot and I miss you! All I wish is to see you again. Thankyou Ms. Danuta Rzewuski, Mrs. Laurence Cedeno and Ms. Isabelle Menand! I owe my gratitude to you. Words are not enough to thankyou for what you have done for us!

At the end, I thank Mr. Christophe Groell and Ms. Chantal Desprats for organizing the visit so well that every Indian student is leaving France with tons of good memories. You supported us consistently from the very beginning till the end. Your enthusiasm for this programme is something to be cherished forever. Moreover, I am also very thankful to the seniors, juniors and my batchmates of this DEFIAA Programme with whom travelled from India to France, which was the best with them.

So, Cheers and tears, high fives and cries for this amazing and successful DEFIAA Programme 2023!