On the first day of the year, Mayor Ashley Swearengin signed Chateauroux, France as Fresno’s new sister city. Chateauroux is located in central France, about 2 hours from the capital city of Paris. As part of tradition, the mayor and deputy mayor of Chateauroux planned to visit Fresno on February 28, 2016. The past sister cities of Fresno have included cities as close as Torreon, Mexico to as far away as Afula, Israel.

On February 29, Mayor Gil Averous of Chateauroux attended the official signing ceremony of the two sister cities with Fresno County Supervisor Henry Perea at City Hall. Central High School French teacher Scott Donaghe and husband of teacher Andrea Donaghe attended the event with several of his French students, along with many notable dignities.

Overall many of the students, including Elizabeth Hernandez, found the exchange between the two mayors to be a historical accomplishment for the cities.

“It’s not everyday that a high school student is honored with the chance to meet the Mayor of Chateauroux in person,” Hernandez said. “The experience was unlike any other; it was truly beautiful to see both cultures blend together. I’m glad that Fresno and Chateauroux are sister cities so our community can benefit from the French as much as they will benefit from us.”

Studying French since his freshman year in high school, Scott Donaghe has appreciated the French language and traditions for many years. As Fresno experienced a new connection with France, Donaghe felt the event not only impacted him greatly, but the central valley as well.

“It was truly an honor to be present at such a historical and culturally important event,” Donaghe said. “The two cities connecting students with students will impact Fresno and the central valley for years to come.”

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Mayor Averous also visited an American BBQ Dinner held by the Fresno Sister Cities Committee, March 2. In attendance were city council members, Fresno Sister City Committee members, and Central High French teacher Scott Donaghe.

This being his first time in California, Avérous witnessed the differing customs of Western life versus life in France. He also visited Fresno State University, wineries, ranches, and the Farmer’s Market.

“I like how casual Californians seem to be,” Avérous said. “They wear clothing very easily, it’s comfortable. I see the cowboy look often here and it’s normal. If someone were to wear that in Chateauroux it would probably be for Halloween.”

Many of Chateauroux’s own customs and history are influenced by Americans. Although Fresno is more than 5 times larger in population than Chateauroux, the two share similar traits and share each others’ qualities, and thus created the sister city alliance between Fresno and Chateauroux.

“Fresno was mainly chosen as Chateauroux’s sister city due to a rich American presence in the French town,” Avérous said. Chateauroux was a very agricultural town and was not modernized until the Americans came. The Americans came to work as part of the US Air Force base and brought along their own products. In Fresno also exists a French organization, L’Alliance Francaise, which certain members live in Chateauroux. Naturally, Fresno seemed the best choice as a sister city.”

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While Chateauroux and Fresno tend to have many similarities, they also contrast just as much. However, Avérous finds the differences in Fresno to be encouraging and eye-opening. He also wishes to bring some of the youth to his own town in an exchange program.

“One difference that Fresno has is the growing youth here,” Avérous said. “There are so many young people here with all of the universities and high schools. In Chateauroux the population is aging and far older. We have university in Chateauroux as well as several high schools; we would like to include university students to be a part of the exchange program in Chateauroux as well as high school students.”

Scott Donaghe, who served as translator for the French mayor found the event to be beneficial and an educational experience, meeting important figures to further the sister city program. As a result, he is already planning for the future with Chateauroux.

“Attending the BBQ event was an amazing opportunity to connect in a relaxed way with the people in our community supporting Fresno Sister Cities and with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Chateauroux,” Donaghe said. “Speaking with Gil Avérous and Jean-Yves Hugon in such a relaxed atmosphere was mutually beneficial, allowing us to kick around some ideas on how to actually promote this exchange program between our two cities. I am Facebooking daily with Mayor Avérous setting up the connections to begin our first Skype session between high schools in Chateauroux and here in Fresno.”

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This writer can be reached via Twitter: @macyyvictoria and email: Macy Mascarenas.

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