Nebraska Wesleyan University student Marion Prudhomme spent the afternoon of Friday, November 13 shopping at a nearby thrift store. She was excited to show her purchase to fellow French international student and friend Emilie Triboulet.
But the excitement quickly turned to fear and sadness when Triboulet told Prudhomme about the terrorist attacks that had just happened in their home country.
Prudhomme immediately called her boyfriend whose sister works at the Bataclan, a Paris music venue and site of the terrorist attacks.
鈥淏ut she wasn鈥檛 there that night,鈥 Prudhomme said, relieved.
鈥淚 called my mother as soon as I read the news,鈥 recalled Triboulet. 鈥淟uckily everyone in my family was fine.鈥
Watching the news from afar was difficult, said the French students.
鈥淲e would like to go there and stay with our people. Us French are indestructible together,鈥 said Triboulet.
In the days following the attack, Prudhomme found comfort in talking to her grandmother. Triboulet turned to friends and social media to stay informed on any developments.
鈥淎t a certain point I wanted to get disconnected from it all,鈥 she admitted.
It鈥檚 not the first time Paris was targeted by terroristic activities. In January the headquarters of the satirical journal Charlie Hebdo was bombed, causing 28 deaths.
鈥淎fter what happened in January, I grew more patriotic,鈥 said Triboulet.
鈥淏ack then, people marched all together,鈥 added Prudhomme.
Prudhomme and Triboulet recently gave a presentation on their country to the International Relations Organization, a student organization. Their presentation highlighted how the French stand together regardless of differences in race, political, or religious beliefs.
Triboulet will return to France in December while Prudhomme will return in May.
Both said they won鈥檛 forget their Nebraska Wesleyan experience.
鈥淧eople here are very nice all the time,鈥 said Prudhomme.
鈥淚 also love every little moment in the day spent with my friends here,鈥 said Triboulet. 鈥淚t鈥檚 wonderful to even chat about the tiniest facts.鈥
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Story by Alessandro Schirano, Public Relations Intern