Québec City, Québec, CANADA – Road trips are among the best ways to build community with others.
It all started when three strangers came together for the American Fourth of July weekend: Nikky Luna from Brazil, Leith Chikh Rouhou from Tunisia and I. We had one thing in common, our involvement with Youth Journalism International.
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Although I first connected with Leith at an event at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, I really had a chance to get to know him on the drive from Maine to Québec City.
One thing we had in common was talking about our families. For example, we both have siblings who are active in sports. And we both work in Portland, Maine. We talked about the music we listen to, college, and where we see each other in our future lives.
While we were driving through Maine, we stopped to visit Moxie Falls in Jackman and the Skowhegan Indian statue in Skowhegan.
Once we reached Québec City, we met up with Nikky, a YJI student from Brazil who was briefly in Toronto. Over our two days, we explored Québec City. We admired the city’s liveliness through people playing instruments, singing and dancing in the streets.
We also admired the architecture of Québec City. It had the atmosphere of a European city, with cafes on every street corner, walkable areas, stone alleyways, and French architecture that make you feel like you are in a French town.
Throughout our time in Québec, we were able to see the beautiful Old City.
We went to the Plains of Abraham, the historic Fortifications of Québec, the hotel Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, the Samuel de Champlain statue, Église de Baie-Saint-Paul church (known as the Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste) and the Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral.
Nikky and I interviewed locals about their jobs in Québec City. I interviewed a woodworker, and Nikky interviewed an employee at a store selling maple taffy.
It was a wonderful experience.
Something we all left with was an appreciation for another country’s culture through learning about its history and art, talking with locals, and visiting museums.
I hope to get together with Nikky and Leith again, and I look forward to my next out-of-country trip.
Carlos Fra-Nero is a Reporter with Youth Journalism International.
See more from this mini-series on Québec City:
