San Diego 
Travel Stories
Lessons from Verdun
by Kim Knowlton
HI-USA Opening Doors, Opening Minds
International Youth Exchange Participant
September 2003
“There have been few events in my life that I can truly say have had a profound effect on me, and the exchange in Verdun is one of them. It is only after being home for a few days that I have really been able to see the changes in me and to absorb the lessons that I learned from this amazing experience. I would like to share these lessons with all of you.
Day 1: I learned that when you try to judge someone by how they look and where they come from, you are usually wrong.
Day 2: I learned that, many times, a great big hug from someone is all the language you need.
Day 3: I learned to have a deep respect for the heritage of countries and cultures that have stood the test of time ages longer than my own.
Day 4: I learned that one country or way of life is not the center of the universe.
Day 5: I learned that true honor is the result of standing by your principles in the midst of great threat and fear.
Day 6: I learned that wisdom is gained by listening when you would have preferred to speak.
Day 7: I learned that laughter is a necessary component of inner peace and peace all around us.
Day 8: I learned that the creation of a solid group is a beautiful work of art.
Day 9: I learned that even young people get tired and cranky!
Day 10: I learned that lifelong bonds could be formed in ten short days when respect, honesty and giving are at the foundation.
These are just a few of the lessons that I hope to integrate into all aspects of my life. Social change begins with one person’s inner transformation and I hope that all of us have returned home better people than when we embarked on this journey.”
My experience in Verdun was the experience of a lifetime. A bold statement, I realize, but for good reason. I learned invaluable lessons in Verdun and left with unforgettable memories. The experience touched me so deeply that I find it hard to put into words. However, I will try by sharing just a few of these lessons and memories that I have brought home with me.
One of the most profound experiences during the exchange was watching the film Gandhi. I had never seen it before and did not know much about Gandhi’s life, but I loved the film. I walked away from it feeling deeply moved and enlightened. Learning about Gandhi’s life taught me about true humility. It gave me a lesson in honor and courage in the face of adversity. Since my return home, life has thrown me a few curve balls and as I have dealt with these things, I have tried to remember the film and the strength that was shown by Gandhi. In the face of my own adversity, I have been inspired to seek out my inner strength. Also, I was in awe of the passion that Gandhi felt in life and have spent a great deal of time in the last month reflecting on my own passions. I am in the profession of social work, a field that has always made me feel passionate, but a field that can also be rough on one’s spirit. Burnout is common and I have felt it before, but in the last few weeks I have not. This is because each time I begin to feel frustration, I remind myself that I love what I do and that I am lucky enough to be able to pursue my passion as Gandhi did. In this way the film inspired me to have a greater understanding of myself.
In addition to the structured activities during the exchange, there were times each day when we were able to have free time. One of my best memories of the exchange happened during one of these free moments. I was sitting on a bench in front of the hostel writing in my journal when another participant, Waylon from Malta, sat down next to me. To be honest, I was on a roll with my journal and did not welcome the distraction. As Waylon and I sat there on the bench, we heard the bells in the cathedral across from us begin to chime…and chime, and chime, and chime…for about twenty minutes straight. So much for not being distracted! Waylon and I decided to make a little game of the chiming bells by guessing when they would stop. Each time that we were wrong, we broke into hysterical laughter. We laughed so hard for so long that our stomachs and cheeks hurt and I had forgotten all about my task at hand. This seems like a simple story, and probably not funny to anyone who was not there, but this small moment in time has given me so much since I have been home. It reminded me how to lighten up and laugh. And trust me, there have been quite a few days where I have needed to lighten up. Just a quick thought back to sitting on that bench laughing with Waylon has made me chuckle. Finally, I gained a broader outlook on the world from my experience in Verdun.
There were many moments during the exchange when I realized this, but most memorably was on the bus ride back from a visit to Strasbourg. It was quite impromptu, but all of the representatives from each country went up to the front of the bus and sang a song from their country. It was incredible to see everyone go up and take great pride in their culture and heritage. When it came time for us to sing a “typical” American song, we had a hard time thinking of one. We thought of our patriotic songs, but aside from those, we drew a blank. I began to recognize that America is such a large, diverse, and relatively new country with no single tradition.
From experiences such as these, I really began to understand that one country or way of life is not the center of the universe. Listening to each participant share something sacred to them from their country gave me a deep respect for those countries that have cultural roots that run deeper than my own. It is in this way that the exchange, and hostelling in general, has opened up my mind to the complex, diverse, and dynamic world that lies beyond me, my state, and my country.
I share here just a few of the keepsakes from my trip to Verdun. There are many more lessons and memories that we as a group shared, and many that are all my own. I do not exaggerate when I say that the experience changed my life—my self awareness, my attitude towards others, and my outlook on the world. I sincerely wish every person could get the opportunity to do something like this because I believe we would live in a world of greater understanding, respect, and compassion if we all had this chance. One last example—the Verdun group now shares a group website where we can all communicate with one another via message boards. Yesterday I shared with the group that I have recently suffered a death in my family. Less than twenty-four hours later I had an electronic sympathy card from the group (over 55 people from more than 15 countries) expressing their sorrow and support. As I said, the experience was that of a lifetime!"