Bonjour a tous,

Je m’appelle Katie et je suis très heureuse et honorée d’avoir été choisi de participer au programme des jeunes ambassadeurs de 2018.

This year I am in year 13 at Sacred Heart Girls’ College in Hamilton and I have lived here my whole life. Ever since I began learning french at school in year 9 it has been a great passion of mine as I love the challenge of learning another language. Also, the cultural aspect of learning a language has always interested me, so last year I applied to go on a 2 month exchange to Switzerland during our Summer holidays here in NZ. During the exchange I was able to improve my french so I am thrilled to be going back to France where I will be able to use and hopefully make progress with my french skills.

I have two great-grandfathers who fought in France during the first world war, therefore, I feel that this trip is a great opportunity for me to learn more about what they went through and pay my respects for what they did for our country 100 years ago. After reading a letter that one of my great-grandfathers wrote during the war, I realise that I cannot imagine the hardships they had to endure and the horrors that they witnessed. Over the next few months, I hope to learn more about the places where they fought so that when we visit these places in July, I will have gained a deeper understanding of the events that occurred there and the significance behind them. I also hope to learn more about the connection that has developed between France and New Zealand since the war and how it has shaped both our countries since.