The 24-year cultural partnership between Agen and Corpus Christi reached a milestone this summer as a delegation of seven American high school students arrived in the Lot-et-Garonne department for a two-week exchange program, according to La Dépêche.
Official Welcome at the Town Hall
The visiting students, hailing directly from the coastal Texas city of Corpus Christi, were officially received by the Agen town hall in a ceremony led by Jean-Marie Nkollo, the deputy mayor in charge of town twinning, as reported by La Dépêche.
“Chers amis américains, nous sommes vraiment heureux de vous recevoir ici à Agen,” Nkollo told the gathering during his opening remarks, which were translated on-site by a volunteer.
City officials noted that the exchange program faced significant disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted travel between the twin cities for two years. However, ties began resuming when an Agen delegation traveled to Texas in November, receiving what organizers described as a wonderful welcome.
To conclude his welcome address ahead of a municipal buffet, Nkollo offered a toast to international friendship, proclaiming: “Vive le Texas, vive les États-Unis et vive la France,” drawing applause from attendees.
A Quarter-Century of Transatlantic Ties
The relationship between the two communities dates back to November 24, 1999, when representatives formally signed the twinning oath. The partnership originated as an extension of an existing connection between Corpus Christi and Toledo, Spain—a city that also shares twin ties with Agen.
Every year, high school students traverse the roughly 8,500 kilometers separating southwestern France from the Gulf of Mexico. These educational journeys are coordinated in large part by Marie-Pierre Lacroix, a native of the Lot-et-Garonne who moved to Texas 38 years ago to work as a painter and now serves as a primary liaison for the twin cities.
“Cette année, c’était mon premier échange,” Lacroix told La Dépêche, reflecting on her role. “Quand j’avais leur âge, j’avais participé à l’un de ces échanges et j’ai toujours eu cette envie de faire vivre une expérience similaire que la mienne à d’autres jeunes.”
Because the pandemic interrupted the program for multiple years, local organizers arranged for an additional delegation of young Texans, accompanied by Lacroix, to visit Agen from July 25 to August 8 to make up for lost time.
Student Perspectives on French Culture
During their fortnight in Europe, the American participants toured Paris, the Basque Country, and parts of Spain in addition to exploring rural Lot-et-Garonne. For several students, the trip marked their first time leaving the United States.
Reflecting on their stay shortly before departing for the airport, the students shared their impressions of French daily life with regional media.
“Ça fait bizarre de repartir, on s’est vraiment habitué à la France, c’était génial,” said Mark, one of the visiting participants.
Another student, Trey, highlighted the relaxed pace of life in the region: “Ici, tout le monde est gentil, il n’y a pas de stress, c’est vraiment reposant.”
Ridge, a fellow traveler, contrasted the European countryside with his home state in South Texas: “C’est très différent du Texas mais c’est vraiment magnifique. L’architecture, la gastronomie, les paysages et la campagne, c’est vraiment un pays exceptionnel.”
Next Steps in the Exchange Calendar
With the departure of the initial group, municipal committees in both Agen and Corpus Christi are preparing to welcome the incoming late-July delegation. Organizers confirmed that cultural and educational exchanges will continue on an annual basis, reinforcing the historical bonds established over the past 24 years.
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