International Weekend for Young People
27-29 April, Paris, France

All young people with OI from Europe where invited by the French association (AOI) to join on an international weekend in Paris. So, I went on april 27th by Thalys to Paris. That was my first train- experience and I liked it a lot. It was very comfortable and I arrived still full of energy on Gare du Nord. I was glad I took a friend of mine, Oda, with me because it was hard to get the wheelchair on the train. And of course she was great company. In the afternoon we arrived by taxi at the FIAP. It is some kind of a youth-hotel with a few rooms for disabled people. We had diner together and a introduction round.
There where about 25 participants from Norway, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands and of course France. It was great to meet one another. The next day, there was a meeting about sports in the morning.

After lunch we went to Versailles. It was a really beautiful palace, I was very impressed with it. We where so lucky that a Belgium couple and my friend and I where able to visit the gardens too.

Waiting at the entrance of the Versailles Palace

We rented a car (like on a golf-link) and viewed the garden.

Waiting for the "golfcar"

The weather was great and we made very nice pictures. After this visit we went back to the hotel and had diner at a nice restaurant. Most people went for a couple of drinks in the bar. I was very tired at the end of the day, but some of the participants enjoyed Paris till the morning. At eight we already had breakfast again and we where on a bustrip to see the most important buildings of Paris.

It was great to see for example the Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower and the Arc of Triumph.

Under the Eiffel Tower

Back at the hotel we had to say goodbye to everybody and a taxi brought us back to the station. All together it was a great experience with a lot of nice contacts all over Europe. It was great to see such beautiful architecture of Paris, but most important where the meetings and talks to young people from other countries. I hope we keep in touch!!

Anne-Miek Vroom
OIFE youth coordinator