A journey of a lifetime
Behchoko youth attend World Youth Day in Poland
Kassina Ryder
Northern News Services
Saturday, August 13, 2016
BEHCHOKO/RAE EDZO
Two Behchoko youth took the trip of a lifetime this summer when they travelled to Poland for World Youth Day.
Behchoko's Roman Lamouelle, 19, travelled to Poland for World Youth Day on July 17. - Photo courtesy of Roman Lamouelle
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"I got to see the Pope. I was right in front of the crowd," said Roman Lamouelle, 19. "He looked right at me."
Lamouelle and Jody Zoe, 18, arrived in Poland on July 17. The pair joined a group from the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton and their first week was spent in Warsaw where they stayed with host families.
"They really know how to take care of you, they kept on feeding me," he said. "Sausage, I had it over there and it's pretty awesome and their pirogies. It was so fantastic."
Participants travelled to Krakow the following week. Lamouelle said they visited historic sites in both cities, including a tour of the Auschwitz concentration camp.
"It was pretty intense when you walk in," he said.
Zoe said she agreed.
"It was shocking," she said. "It was kind of emotional in a way."
They also visited churches, city squares and the Wawel Cathedral, which is more than 900 years old.
Seeing the country's ancient architecture was one of the highlights of the trip, Lamouelle said.
"We have wood houses, theirs are like brick and sandstone," he said. "It's incredible to see it."
Zoe said she also appreciated the landscape in and around the cities.
"It was really different," she said. "I enjoyed the scenery."
Other differences included the language and the weather, she added.
"I didn't hear any English there at all," she said. "It's just really different compared to the North.
It was really hot there."
Participants fundraised for about six months before the trip, Lamouelle said. He sold pop and chips during local bingo games and raised about $3,000.
Family members in Behchoko were a big help.
"My family really helped me to fundraise," he said.
Zoe said she's glad she decided to sign up for the trip.
"I wanted to go to other places and explore and Poland is a very nice place," she said. "I enjoyed it."
The pair arrived back in Behchoko the week of Aug. 1.
The first World Youth Day was held in Rome, Italy in 1986.
