In June, the Berkeley Club of France attended the 2018 Annual Embassy Reception with the Ambassador of the United States of America. Organised by AUC France, the cocktail brings together U.S. university alumni in Hôtel de Talleyrand where guests could enjoy live piano and an exhibition about the Marshall Plan.
Mrs. Therese Vien, president of AUC France, reaffirmed the special bond between the United States and France, calling to mind the long tradition of academic exchanges between the two countries. For the longest time, France has been one of the top five destinations for American students to study abroad. The role that AUC France played in fostering exchange and study abroad programmes were also emphatically underlined.
Speaking of a testament to the special bond between the United States and France, there is a Marshall Center in Paris and it happens to be located in the spectacular interiors of Hotel de Talleyrand, a late 18th century-built town house and an illustrious example of architecture of the French Enlightenment.
The small exhibition hosted by the Marshall Center consisted of a series of wood panels displaying archive photos with an accompanying text explaining different aspects of the U.S. economic assistance that helped rebuild Western European economies after the end of World War II. All in all, it was a treat to be able to combine learning history and mingling with fellow alumni!