Four students from France are currently studying at WKU. They're now forced to cope with last week's deadly terrorist attacks thousands of miles away from their homeland. WKU Public Radio spoke with Aymeric LeCorno and Solene Laupretre about their family and friends back home and how their country is coping.
How did you learn of the attacks?
Aymeric: I was actually playing soccer with some friends and didn't have my phone with me. I got back home and had a bunch of friends texting me asking me how I was doing. I said good, but I don't know what you're talking about. They told me I should turn on the TV and check the news. I tried to call my brothers and parents. I have a brother living in Paris. Not being at home when it happened was tough. Even today like four days after the incident I still can't figure out why this happened in Paris. I just have a lot of questions.
Solene: I was at home doing homework and I saw in the newspaper online and on Facebook that something had happened back home.
So the two of you had heard about the attacks long before you made contact with loved ones back in France?
Aymeric: Yes. Thanks to social media, information goes pretty quickly throughout the world.
What has it been like being so far away from your native country during this time of tragedy and national mourning?
Aymeric: I wish I could be at home right now because it's so hard to feel what my French compatriots feel right now because I'm so far away. I really appreciate the support of my American friends, but I'm glad I get to go home in a month to see my family and friends.
So your have plans to go home for the holidays. What are you expecting when you get there?
Aymeric: More security. I'm flying there obviously and I want more security checkpoints.
Solene, do you have family and friends in France now and what is that like being so far away?
Solene: I have most of my family in Paris so it's complicated to know they feel at this moment and to contact them but I know they are safe. Everybody will be scared for a few days and after that it will be okay. We went through that in January with Charlie Hebdo and everybody was careful for a few days and then it was normal.
What are your friends and family back home telling you about the atmosphere there now?
Aymeric: They're trying to bring the community together but some people are responding badly to it. I don't think it's a religious issue. Some people are using religion to spread their ideologies but it's not because of religion.
Do they still have a high sense of concern for their safety?
Aymeric: Not my parents, not my brothers, not my friends. Even if they are, I'm trying to push them to just enjoy the things they do like going to a restaurant or a concert. We can't be scared of that. We need to keep doing these things and show the terrorists we are not going to stop living.
Looking ahead, how do you think this tragedy will change your home country?
Aymeric: The values of France won't change because people make them, but what will happen to the country will be decided by the government. We don't have that much power, but we'll see what they can do for us to make us safer.
There was worldwide reaction showing solidarity with France following the attacks. How did it make you feel to see that reaction?
Aymeric: It feels great honestly. I'm glad I'm here in the U.S. The U.S. citizens showed so much compassion toward us. It wish I could be home to help my family, but the fact that the entire world is concerned about us just shows they didn't attack Paris, they just attacked freedom.
How do you think these latest attack will impact the discussion in France about welcoming Syrian refugees, and in general, how refugees and immigrants are assimilated into society?
Aymeric: We have people landing on the Greek coast. They are leaving everything they have in Syria and other countries. How are you going to tell them to go back home where people are bombing your places. We're hosting thousands, and among them, we have ten bad people. I don't think it's an excuse to stop them. There's something better to do but I don't have the answer. I hope the political heads of France have the answer, but it's a really hard topic to talk about it.
Solene: I think there will be more checks when they come as far as why they are coming, where are they from, if they are really refugees or if they want bad things for France. I hope they will still help people. There are very good people who just want to be safe in France.
Is there anything else you want people to know about your home country?
Aymeric: Thank you to the U.S. citizens for showing so much support. It's not only Paris that has been attacked, it's freedom. Throughout history, we fought for freedom and now that we have it, there are still people trying to get that from us, but we won't let them do that.
