WFDYS: Reims & Paris, France (July 2019)

My trip to Europe lasted for six weeks altogether. I spent the first three weeks in France, attending the Clin d’Oeil Festival in Reims, the WFDYS board meeting, the WFDYS Youth camp, and the WFD Congress in Paris.  I arrived in Paris and took a train to Reims for the Deaf film and arts festival. 

I missed the first day but participated in the remaining three or four days.  I was there to do some WFDYS work and enjoy the festival.  There were so many new people to meet and many I hadn’t seen in a long time. The festival attracted about three thousand people, and communication around the Deaf village was accessible. Because everyone uses sign language, no barriers exist to contact, and you can get food and drinks quickly.  I looked after the WFDYS stall, provided information to people, and sold sunglasses for fundraising. We fundraise money and proceed to the camp.  Other booths included people selling hand-made crafts, among other products and services, all by Deaf people.  Unfortunately, I didn’t see any of the theatre performances due to being stuck at the stall. Colin Allen and I presented information in two sessions about the WFD and the WFDYS, it’s future and current work.  Not many people came to see us, but they had questions and showed their curiosity despite that.  Attending the festival was worthwhile but exhausting at the same time. During the day, I would hang out in the village and at night, enjoy the party, meet new people and watch the DJ and listen to music.  It was also an excellent reason to escape the Australian winter and enjoy a European summer.  Laura supported me on the stall, but she was, at times, busy working at a bar.

After the festival, Laura and I travelled back to Paris by train. The WFDYS board had booked an Airbnb to accommodate all five of us. We arrived, and then soon after, Alejandra joined us, followed by Yoorang. We had a relaxing time for a couple of days, catching up from our last meeting. I watched the State of Origin match back home, so I told them that I was keen to watch it in an Australian pub in the city and asked if they wanted to join me. They agreed. The following day, we took the train into the city to find an Australian pub where I could watch it.  It turned out to be one of the most exciting games I have ever seen. Of course, my allegiance lies with NSW. The other three were somewhat bewildered by this game we call rugby.  So they decided to leave to do some shopping, but I bumped into other friends who came from Sydney who all cheered the whole time.  After a very close match, the bar erupted with cheers for NSW, who won.

After the game, I caught up with the other three, and we returned to our accommodation.  We played some games and cooked some food. Laura is an excellent cook, so we were spoilt with some good food to go along with the great company. We knew that this would be our downtime before the storm hit in the coming days of the camp and congress. Mark arrived the next day, and we enjoyed the catch-up and exchanged gifts.  It was a lovely mark of appreciation for the four years we have worked together. My first two years were difficult, but once we clicked into gear, everything and everyone worked well.  

The next day we checked out the Airbnb; we caught a maxi Uber to the campsite and stayed there for nine days to prepare for the board meeting and the youth camp. We started with two days of meetings where we made our final preparations for reports and documents to hand to the incoming board. We also spent time ensuring that all aspects of the camp were in order – program, accommodation and logistics with the COC (Camp Organising Committee).  They had worked so hard over the last three years to prepare everything.  All youth participants split into groups, and I was responsible for awarding points based on their attendance, teamwork and other skills they showed in the final days of the camp.  There was a great deal of competition but also encouragement within the teams. After four years of preparation and work, the camp hosted about 130 participants from 40 countries.  Everyone had a chance to meet others and warm up. We again stressed that communication would never be a problem to help them with their confidence. It was clear that the emerging future leaders supported the less confident participants.  

The week-long program was precious.  It began with Colin Allen, the WFD President, making a presentation followed by workshops and activities.  The following days also offered seminars and teaching. We had five outside presenters talk on social media, Deaf economy, human rights and taboo issues, all of which gave them pause for thought and led to further discussion and problem-solving in a global context. At midday, we made a trip to the city of Paris, which was about an hour away. We first visited the Deaf school, the first-ever school for deaf children worldwide. The rich history there is fantastic. We then went to the Pantheon, which hosted a special exhibition on Deaf education. In the afternoon everyone had free time. I hung out with the WFDYS board at the Eiffel Tower. I took some photos together before three board members decided to go back to camp, another one went to do an errand, and I re-joined with some youth to hang out at a park, get some ice cream, and enjoy some time before returning to the camp.  

The following two days at the camp included more team activities and presentations before a wrap-up and presentation of awards and fun games on the Friday evening. Most of the participants left for home the next day, but some stayed on for the Youth General Assembly and the WFD congress the following week. Sufficient sleep during a camp is a rare thing and is a fair trade for the camp’s valuable experience. Daytime is always busy, but we are all still up playing games and enjoying our company at night.  

The WFDYS board left the camp and headed to the WFD congress venue to assess everything before the Youth General Assembly (YGA). Alejandra and I also joined a couple of meetings of the WFD to evaluate the bids for the next camp and congress.  Four countries put forward a request to host the next camp.  Over the following two days, the YGA hosted many presentations and reports from various people. Several internal matters needed ratifying by the 30 delegates.  This was all in identifying a path forward and activities for the next four years. Despite being extremely tired, it was a productive couple of days. The elections for board positions and the host nation for the next camp were held on the second day. The 2022 children’s camp will be held in Uruguay, and the 2021 junior camp in India. As with WFD tradition, the youth camp is held in the same country as the congress, so South Korea was awarded this honour. 

We then turned to elections of the board directors, which was exciting because I had put forward a proposal for either president, vice president or secretary. I made my pitch for president but missed out. I then was able to pitch for the vice president position and was awarded that. This means that I will work closely with Mark Berry again over the next four years. I am very confident that we can continue our close collaboration as we have done thus far. The vote for secretary was held and the inclusion of four new board members, making a total of seven directors on the board.  I am excited because they offer a great variety of skills, gender and nationality. The secretary is from Canada, and the ordinary board members are from France, Norway, Chile and India. They all seem willing and able to take on the work of the WFDYS for the next four years. The two-day YGA was then brought to a close.

We then switched gears and moved into the WFD congress. The opening saw several presentations on a range of the congress themes. I supported the Chair of the Sign Language and Deaf Studies stream, Robert Adam.  A member of the French Association of the Deaf also provided support. The support of the chair was busy enough, but I was also on duty at the WFDYS stall selling products, involved in meetings and working with the new board to map a plan of inducting them into the WFDYS structure. I may have eaten something a little off the day before because my health was not the best, and the hot weather was not helpful, but I struggled to get through.  

The days were spent at the congress, while most nights were spent at the local Canada Club, a venue that attracted many congress participants.  It was always hot and crowded, so I chose to go only every other night.  The weather had changed on the final day, which brought cooler temperatures and a little rain to much relief inside the club. I also went to the congress dinner, which was very enjoyable.  

The congress was over, and most people prepared to depart for home, but I joined Alejandra and Laura on a trip to Turin, Italy, where Laura lives, with a train transfer to Lyon. We then stayed for three days at Laura’s house, where we could completely unwind and relax. It was such a relief.  For the previous three weeks, we were crazy and busy, and the time seemed to go so fast, but we achieved so much. And in that moment, I could turn the page on the past four years. My thoughts on that chapter have not yet crystallised – so many challenges and learning.  But now we move on to the next chapter of working with the new board.  The three days’ rest in Italy was exactly what I needed – a good rest, good food, good weather and good company.  

After Turin, I went to Milan for a few days to hang out with another friend. Then I flew to Barcelona, Spain, where I visited the Deaf run restaurant named Ziryab, ate great food and ran into several people who had been to the congress and the camp. Also, luckily Laura and Alejandra re-met in Barcelona, so we spent some more time together hanging out to exploring the city. I then caught a train to Toulouse, in the south of France and thoroughly enjoyed visits to a couple of museums. A pastime I enjoy. I have a friend from Australia who now lives there, and she took me around the city.  My favourite part in Toulouse was a visit to the Space museum. As a space enthusiast, I spent four and a half hours exploring the museum – the significant part is that I climbed into a Soyuz spacecraft.  It used to carry cosmonauts to the ISS (International Space Station). There are currently six crew members living in the ISS. I am amazed at how small the Soyuz spacecraft is.  I could not imagine three people fitting into this spacecraft. The next day, I also met a friend, Sandy from the COC, who showed me around the city.

After two nights, I took a train back to Paris, spent another two days with Yoorang and had a great time. And then everything was done and wrapped up. A whole six weeks in Europe was, at times, challenging but a great experience. I am back in Australia now and looking forward to the next meeting of the new WFDYS team.