Born in France, traveled halfway around the world, graduated with a Master of Laws in Belgium, practiced in Dublin in the law office, Arnaud Parent finally decided that the right was not for him. Fifteen years ago, he moved to Vilnius. He learned the Lithuanian language, teaches French, and spent about ten years writing his thesis "The French in the Reorganization of the Republic of Both Nations during the reign of Stanislaus Augustus - 1764-1995", which he defended in Lithuanian last year Vilnius University and the Institute of Lithuanian History. Arnaud is currently teaching French at the Mykolas Romeris University and is writing in Lithuanian the biography of the French doctor Jean-Emmanuel Gilibert, who lived in Vilnius in 1781-1783.
Dear Arnaud, how did you come to Lithuania? How do you feel after spending so many years in Lithuania?
I always liked to travel. In the summer of fifteen years old, I studied Russian in the then Leningrad. At that time, the differences between Russia and France at that time were huge, I was used to living in a completely different environment, and just in that year there was also a putsch in Russia. But I always liked central Europe. I visited the Baltic countries for the first time as a tourist. A few years later, after graduating, I decided that I would like to work and live abroad. I came to Vilnius in 2004 and have been living here for 15 years. From the very beginning, I feel very comfortable in Lithuania, I get along well with Lithuanians.
Are you a qualified lawyer, but you defended your thesis on the topic of history and teach French at a university?
Yes, I really like languages. Besides, I like to live among books. After working in the field of law - I worked in a law firm and in Vilnius - but in the end I realized that it was not for me. After arriving in Vilnius, I worked at Vilnius University in the department of translation studies and taught French legal terminology. After that I started teaching French in two language schools. Teaching language is more fun than law. When I first taught at Vilnius University, I really liked being with students, learning myself and passing on my knowledge to others. The relationship between students and teachers was striking - it is different here than in France. In the university, there is more openness, communication between students and the teacher, their relations are friendly. Also, the beginning of the school year, the first of September is a huge holiday in Lithuania. Awarding of university diplomas in Lithuania is also a celebration, a huge event. This is not the case in France, diplomas are simply mailed to graduates. This is the simplest procedure, no celebration.
How many languages do you know?
I learn Russian, Polish, English, Lithuanian and, of course, French. I speak a little German. I like to travel, so learning languages makes it easier to communicate, I can communicate with the people of that country in their native language.
Do you like living in Vilnius?
As I already mentioned, the city is not big, there is not such a high density as, for example, in Paris. It's better for me when it's a little calmer and when there's more silence, a lot of greenery. The air is clean here, more pollution in Paris. Forests and lakes are close here, Vilnius seems safe to me. I like to ride my bike after work, on weekends, I think there are enough trails in the city.
France is considered the capital of gastronomy and the French are famous for their cuisine. Do you like Lithuanian dishes?
I like sea bream, herring, which is even tastier in Lithuania than in France. Also, I like sauerkraut because they don't do it that way in France.