"In 1985, I left my native Germany to spend a semester studying in France, in Caen. The following year, I moved to Tours to continue my studies at the Institut de Touraine. I lived with a host family right in the city center. I had a diploma in professional French from the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry. I was the kind of good student with glasses who'd rather buy a paperback of Racine than a cocktail.

The institute invited me to take part in a student seminar organized by the Rotary Club, in a small château. I was thrilled at the idea of spending three days with French people – it would be a great opportunity to improve my language skills. In the group, I met Pascal, who had great energy. He was a natural, unpretentious person. I loved his intellectual curiosity. The feeling was mutual. We quickly became accomplices. We ate our meals together and joked about the guy who played pool by himself.

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