From Berlin wall to Corona
By : Tanguy De Lestré(father) & Charlotte De Lestré (daughter), Belgium
In the series of father-daughter interviews
(2019–2020) Charlotte De Lestré from Belgium; I was sponsored by Habersham County RC — Toccoa RC, and the Clarkesville RC. I attended Piedmont College in Demorest.
(1989–1990) Tanguy De Lestré from Belgium; I was sponsored by St Simons island RC and Savannah East RC. I attended the Armstrong State University in Savannah
Our GRSP story
(Charlotte) My GRSP experience was in one word: wonderful. I have made so many memories with so many incredible people from all around the world. I have experienced the true Southern college life, including nightly trip to Waffle House and Walmart.
(Tanguy) ‘Coming from a small town in Belgium, the GRSP really opened my eyes to the world and made me literally grow over 5 cm in one year. I was also “thrown in the water and had to learn to swim” . This was an experience of a lifetime. I remember the long in depth evening talks at the pool-house in Pelham; being the tourist guide for the other GRSP students at St. Patrick’s day in Savannah , discovering steamed oyster on a Savannah riverboat cruise of Savannah East RC , trading my Belgian mayonnaise for gravy sausage in the cafeteria.
GRSP impacted
(Charlotte) Through GRSP I have become more mature and aware of the world. Thanks to GRSP my English has improved a lot, and this will help me in my future education.
(Tanguy) ‘Get involved’, a phrase I heard on the first day in college. It has followed me in the rest of my professional and private life full of engagements with passion in different societal projects. 5 years ago I switched my experience in the private sector EU and Belgian public affairs sector for a role of advisor at the Brussels regional government dealing with digital transformation; for the past 2 years launched my own freelance activities in digital and societal challenges based on the UN sustainable development goals (www.delestre.org)
Fascinating facts:
(Charlotte) My host parents were incredibly supportive throughout this year. They helped me get adjusted to this new life. I still find it funny that the first thing we did together was to go eat fried chicken and sweet tea, talk about a true Southern experience. My roommates have awesome, I learned a lot from them, and I am sure they learned a thing or two about Belgian culture. The different Rotary clubs that sponsored me were really welcoming and I enjoyed every single meeting I got to attend.
(Tanguy) The fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 marked the end of an era, and the start of another one. Being far from Europe at that time made me hungry to understand what was really happening, and the next years I traveled extensively in Central and Eastern Europe and studied it.
My daughter yesterday reminded me of my all time favorite song: the Belgian techno band Technotronic with Pump up the Jam that reached the top of the American music charts in 1990, and I reminded that I was so proud of that little Belgian band back in a GRSP party.
Conclusion:
From Berlin to Corona: now again this major system transformation is happening. But was has remained is this Southern hospitality, and the networks they have created. 20 years later lively contact remain with former US college students and the GRSP friends from over the world.
