Reflections: Growing up during WWII, learning life lessons, and moving to America

Interviewer: What is something about your childhood that would surprise us?

Jean Paul: Well, during my life I certainly had a tough time. And I am happy, in a way, that it started like that because you learn to cope. 

Life is not easy, so you have to be sort of immunized against tough times by experiencing tough times yourself. 

My childhood [in France] during the World War, we had no food on the table except potatoes, and we had to ration everything. Also, there was no heat in our house. The coal would go through Germany. Everything would go through Germany. I mean, I had my family which was already pretty good, because most people didn’t have theirs. 

France lost the war to Germany, and as a result of that, all the French soldiers were sent to captivity in Germany. Fortunately, my father had escaped, but for a lot of kids they did not have their father at home. So, I think it's better to start coping with difficulties because there are so many unknowns. But life is beautiful.

Interviewer: Do you think your childhood self would be happy with where you are today? 

Jean Paul: When I was a child, I never thought that I would live here. I did not think much about my future. There were so many other things to be occupied with. My childhood self would probably just focus on following the family tradition of having the same job as my father. 

Interviewer: Are there any people in your life who have had a great impact on you and what did you learn from them?

Jean Paul: My parents and especially my grandmother. She was very strong on family life and family history. She always was focused on the importance of family staying together. And moving forward together. She herself had a very tough time since she was living during World War I. World War I was a butcher. 1.5 million French soldiers were killed. 

During the war, her husband had been gravely wounded and no one knew whether he survived. She knew that adversity existed so she reminded us that life will have difficulties, but you must still move forward. So she had a major influence on me. 

Interviewer: Do you feel like there's any other people who have influenced how you are today? With how your morals are shaped today?

Jean Paul: Well first, my school system, obviously. It’s not a person, but it taught me the importance of honesty. The right way of life. 

We learned how to be honest, to be positive about the future, to accumulate knowledge about as much as you can. I am still trying to do that every day. But, I'm still American, which is a complexity that I like because sometimes I can input different perspectives.

Interviewer: When you moved to the US, did you feel any disconnect from your French culture?

Jean Paul: No. I was very happy here. You know, life was easier. There was more freedom to do whatever you wanted, more or less. Like you could change jobs. In France, there were a lot more social classes. In America, it was much more democratic.

So, that change was very good to experience.

Interviewer: How often did you travel back to France? 

Jean Paul: Well, before COVID, so like four years ago, I would go every year. I would connect with my family and friends as well as travel in general. So that was one way I stayed connected.