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JEAN_FRANCOIS MERLE In 1972, at the age of 16, Jean-Francois began his involvement with the Comité Jumelage, the twinning committee in Vienne which is focused on international exchanges. The roots of these exchanges trace back to 1956 when mayors Dieter Roser of Esslingen and Lucien Hussel of Vienne decided to collaborate, marking a pivotal moment after two devastating wars. They recognized the need to connect with young people as a means of securing a peaceful future, breaking the cycle of war that had occurred every 30 years. The city of Vienne had developed since then exchange programs with twin towns, including Essingen in Germany, Schiedam in the Netherlands, and Udine in Italy. Jean-Francois, accompanied by friends, experienced a transformative 15-day exchange with a host family in Schiedam, marking his first venture outside of France. He vividly recalls his emotional reaction during their first time outside of Vienne, France, in Schiedam in the Netherlands in 1972. At the age of 16, he found himselve sharing a host family with a German participant. When Jean-Francois phoned his family that the was staying with German people in the host family, his mother, grandfather, and grandmother were perplexed. The family failed to grasp that Jean-Francois was in the Netherlands, not Germany, emphasizing the comical and unexpected nature of the cross-cultural encounter. The mother reassured Jean-Francois, explaining that the pairing was a decision made by the organization in charge of the exchange program. Despite initial concerns, Jean-Francois mentions that the leader of the group from Esslingen, Germany, was very sympathetic, indicating that the experience turned out positively. This recollection reflects the mix of emotions and uncertainties that can accompany cross-cultural exchanges. Since then, Jean-Francois has been actively involved in the International Exchange Committee in Vienne, initially as a member of the youth group and gradually assuming various...