Valdenaire expands knowledge at ULV
Campus Times
November 1, 1996
A senior international student from France, Candice Valdenaire, 21,
came to La Verne from Strasbourg Institut D'Etudes Politiques near the German
border in eastern France. Although Valdenaire is a polictical science major,
her secret ambition is to be an actress.
French exchange student, Candice (Con-dees) Valdenaire, 21, came to the
United States to study political science and journalism.
Valdenaire studied at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Strasbourg (Institute
of Political Studies of Strasbourg, France) and is interested in the American
political system and the Communications Department.
"I am interested in the communications field even though I don't have
any classes in the department," said Valdenaire.
"My favorite subject at La Verne is American Government and Politics
with Dr. Richard Gelm," said Valdenaire. "Dr. Gelm is really interesting
and easy to talk to; he is very social with his students."
In the French political system there are "around 10 parties, five of
which are really big." One main difference she noticed was the lack
of advertising in America, especially this being a presidential election
year. "In France, there are signs and posters everywhere you go and
I don't see that as much here," she said.
Valdenaire had the opportunity to meet President Clinton last month at a
rally at Chaffey College. "I met Clinton. I was close to the podium
and got to shake his hand twice. Meeting the President of America is great,
it's really big," she said.
When asked about her experiences of living in the Oaks, Valdenaire said,
"It is a great experience. At first I was afraid to share because it
was new for me, but I like Kristen (Dow, Valdenaire's roommate). I appreciate
life on campus because I'm close to everybody."
Valdenaire had a recent experience with a fellow Oaks resident that she
found "surprising."
"A black student was surprised that I was talking to him. He said,
'You don't mind if I am black and you are talking to me?'
"Sometimes I am surprised that Americans think that the French are
racists. Americans have more of a problem," she said.
Even though Valdenaire is 21 and on her own, her parents still call her
on Sundays.
"They call me every Sunday at 8 a.m. and wake me up. There is a nine
hour time difference between France and the United States, so it is 5 o'clock
in France when they call me.
Before Valdenaire began school at La Verne, she and her father traveled
up to northern California for three weeks.
"We went to San Francisco, Yosemite and Carmel in August. I would love
to live in Carmel. It reminds me of Normandy, a west coast city in France,"
said Valdenaire. "The American landscapes are beautiful. Everything
is big, like the landscapes and the buildings. Life is different."
Valdenaire described herself as "really ambitious, concerned about
life." She works for a humanitarian association in France under Bernard
Kouchner. Kouchner served as the humanitarian minister for France from 1988-93
for the Socialist government. Valdenaire is a member of the Parti Radical
Socailiste (Radical Party), which she said, "it is comparable to the
Democratic Party They're liberals. The Socialist government and the Radical
Party work together in France," she said.
Kouchner is, at present, a deputy in the European Parliament and Valdenaire
works for him in both the European Parliament and in his humanitarian association
as a volunteer since April 1994.
"I'm really concerned about some topics as racism, the tolerance, the
humanitarian aids...this explains my involvement in the French Socialist
Party since (I was) 17," said Valdenaire. "But I've always been,
since 11 (years old), interested by politics."
Valdenaire is no stranger to languages other than her native tongue, French.
She has studied the English language since the age of 14.
"I learned more of the British type of English than American,"
said Valdenaire.
She is also fluent in German. Valdenaire has been speaking German for the
last 10 years. "Now I am trying to learn Spanish," she said.
When she eats off campus, Valdenaire frequents In-N-Out and Cafe Allegro.
"Cafe Allegro is really good and the owner is originally from France,"
she said. "When my father visited in August, we went to different bars
in Los Angeles where the food was good, too."
Valdenaire said, "Even if I could travel anywhere in the world, I would
still come back to France."
"I have met a lot of students. Chris Spors from Germany and Cesar Calleja
from Spain are really close to me. We share everything...I feel a sense
pride for being European when I'm around them," she said.
Valdenaire has three mentors in politics. She looks up to Kouchner, who,
she says, "has good ideas for the world and France. He is concerned
about people."
Francois Mitterrand was the President of France until May 1995. "He
is a good strategist and political animal," she said. "I was really
sad when he passed away in January 1996. The present Czechoslovakian president,
Vaclav Havel, is her third mentor in politics. "He fought against the
Communists; He is courageous and intelligent," she said.
"I consider my three mentors as humanists and as people with ideas
which are always being advanced," said Valdenaire.
The current president of France is Jacques Chirac. "I hate him,"
said Valdenaire. "He is less concerned about social issues and wants
to decrease the minimum wage." The current French minimum wage is equivalent
to $6-7 American dollars. "Things are much more expensive in France
than America," she said.
French presidents hold office for seven years. Chirac will be in office
until 2002.
Some of the important issues currently facing France include "poverty
and unemployment which is at 12.5 percent." There are "a lot of
strikes in France" and that is why "I always demonstrate,"
said Valdenaire. "I have so many projects in my life that I would need
several lives to realize them."
"For example, I would like to work as a volunteer in Africa for one
or two years. I would like to have a small career as an actress...but when?
I particularly want to succeed in my political career," she said.
"I want to be city mayor of Villemomble, a suburb of Paris," said
Valdenaire.
Valdenaire want to be elected to French Parliament as a deputy, like her
boss, Kouchner. This is a five-year position that she able to run for at
the age of 25.
"I have a lot of ambition in politics,"she said. "I also
want to be the first woman French President in the year 2023."