Rotarian guests say “bon jour” to Mid-County

By Darragh Doiron
The Port Arthur News

April 24, 2008 12:45 am

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Raymond Depwe couldn’t wait to get his hands on the French visitors.
“We’ve got to go soon,” he said, waving at three professionals in the Rotary International exchange program.
They hadn’t given their Rotary program yet, but that’s how it is when you’re popular. Everybody wants to show you a good Southeast Texas time.
After speaking at a special Wednesday Pompano Club meeting of the Groves, Port Neches and Nederland Rotary Clubs, they headed off with Depwe for an air boat tour. He promised to show them how the sex of an alligator’s egg is determined.
Earlier the gang got to steer a Sabine Pilot boat.
Rotarian Andre Martin of France is leading the team of four professional countrymen who are getting a taste of the cultural and business climate the area offers. The visitors are from the Burgundy and Champagne regions.
At the Pompano Club, Sonia Derardja, a construction marketing representative, and Graziella de Backer, an assistant nurse, chatted about music and cafe life in France. Later they joined Ingrid Lukat, a surgical nurse, and Romain Champion, who works with Internet technology, in showing power point images of architecture in their hometowns.
Stephan Oubre of Port Neches is hosting Derardja in his home.
“It’s really been a great experience. We’re taking away just as much,” Oubre said.
Champion’s profile noted that he wanted to see a hockey and football game while in America. Oubre took him and Derardja to a Texas Wildcatters hockey game and he reported the French man was good at “beating the ice.” Unfortunately, football is out of season, Oubre said.
Not to worry. Their agenda is full, thanks to Rotarian hospitality.
Contact this reporter at ddoiron@panews.com.

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