The document welcomes students to France for an Erasmus program. It discusses the speaker's positive experiences in Spain and Belgium during previous trips, including unusual cider drinking customs in Spain. The speaker thanks those involved in organizing the trip, believing international programs help young people grow and reduce prejudices by exposing them to different cultures. The speaker hopes all students will have an amazing week together in France.

1. Bienvenue, Bienvenido, Welkom, Benvenuto, Welcome to France !
I hope you had a good trip yesterday and I'm glad to welcome you here for the Erasmus
programm on behalf of all the french people. I hope that it will be an awesome stay for you,
at least as well as it was for me and my friends in Spain or for some of my other mates in
Belgium. We remember how the Spanish people loved to have fun and were really easy
going. What struck me most is the unusual way they have to pour the cider in glasses : they
put the bottle really higher than the glass and it doesn't matter if some falls on the ground!
The french who went to Belgium also remember when they went to the top of the Atomium
and when they went to Technopolis which is kind of a museum which explains scientifical
facts in a funny way. They enjoyed French fries too but it was in fact Belgian French fries.
I'm thankful for all the people who got involved in this project (especially the teachers Mrs
Frey, Mrs Laugel and Mr Weber as well as the Spanish, Belgium and Italian teachers and all
the students who decorated the high school, made the t-shirts and helped choosing the
activities) because I think that it is a great experience to live. Indeed, trips help teenagers to
grow up and this kind of trip is particularly complete because of the discovery of the
country's culture and the fact that we could interract with people who come from other
countries on the one hand and because of the scientifical workshops and visits on the other
hand which helps to create scientifical vocations.
I believe that Erasmus programs will help people to get rid of their prejudices and be less
afraid of differences because difference is essential and beautiful. That's why it looks very
important to me to travel, to be open to other people and be conscious that “even if we may
come from different places and speak different languages, our hearts beat as one.” It's a
quotation I once read with my Australian penfriend and that I hope will be as meaningful to
you as it is for me and that you will all keep it in mind. Let's have an amazing week all
together.