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| Amy Florian is attending a youth conference in France. (Nick Pearce Photo) |
How does spending two weeks of your summer in the south of France sound?
Well, that鈥檚 exactly what 21-year-old Amy Florian will be doing this summer. Ms. Florian, originally from the Annapolis Valley, was one of four students selected from the Atlantic Provinces to represent the region at a youth conference in Montpellier, France. She is doing a double major in biochemistry and French and just completed her third year here at AV俱乐部.
Along with being President of the AV俱乐部 Arts and Social Sciences Society and the commissioner for the DSU Vice President, Ms. Florian found time to write a paper to France鈥檚 representative to the Atlantic Provinces explaining why she should represent Atlantic Canada at the youth conference in France this July.
鈥淟et鈥檚 just say my paper started at six pages and had to be whittled down to two,鈥� she says with a laugh. 鈥淚 just wanted to list all the reasons I wanted to go.鈥�
The strongest message in Ms. Florian鈥檚 letter was that in order to fully appreciate a language you have to live it. 鈥淪o actually going to France would give me a better appreciation of the language I鈥檓 studying.鈥�
On March 20, Ms. Florian attended a French movie screening and discussion where she learned she had been chosen to attend. 鈥淚 was SO excited,鈥� she recalls.
Ms. Florian will be staying with a French family while she鈥檚 in France to study.
鈥淓very morning I will be studying at university to improve my French, but in the afternoons there will be activities and workshops all regarding French culture; I鈥檒l be learning things like French dance, and history and visiting vineyards.鈥�