Migration, a pledge for "Living local, Thinking Global"?

I come from a small village in France called "Toutlemonde"; it literally means "All the World" or "everybody". Not sure this drew my destiny but fact is that I am both representative of rural-urban migration and emigration.

Rural areas, to me, are quite the opposite of what I hear from my YPARD peers in Africa or Asia. Country side for me is the Excellence in term of quality of Life. Is there anything more beautiful than nature with its range of amazing colors, shapes and smells, its overwhelming silence and quietness only interrupted by birds singing, the peacefulness of rain drops or intense and powerful storms? Is there something more fantastic than fresh food: bread picked up still hot from the bakery, flavorful vegetables right from the family garden or the market, tender meat from the butcher?

At 6 years old, I was going back home from school by foot, alone with my neighbor (8), with no issue as the place was so safe. I then discovered the high quality of education in rural areas when starting middle-school in the city close by my village: the two first years felt like revisions of what I had learned before, at least in math and French language (my mother language). Rural areas is also synonym of "paradise" for long reinvigorating walks, and there are indeed not many possible alternatives when I really need to recharge my “battery” again than going back in my family nest, my cocoon!

It must sound pretty much masochist to have left such an Eden! I guess there is one key reason and it is nothing close to the "shame" of being "rural". Still and again, when I have enough of the "noise" of the World, its massive (dis)information overload, its weight of dramas, I dream of leaving it all for the "ding dong" of cows' bells and becoming shepherd in the Pyrenees (French-Spanish mountains).

The one reason for my current life in a city and abroad is caused by the urge to live WITHIN this Global World "in despite of" or "because of" its load of dark stories. I had the impression to "suffocate", blocked, powerless, in my "paradise" bubble where the majority has the same scheme of Life, the same definition for "normal" and "obvious", and where it is easy to close the door on the world's issues. Not being in accordance with the common local perspectives and social "rules" leads to being judged and condemned for being abnormal, and for breaking the harmony. Furthermore, it is sad enough to see how one can come to forget and deny the state of "human being" of others because of the too many differences they see in others. 

Working at "Making the World a better place" sounds very much like a teen's unrealistic cliché, but I can't deny that it is still my motto. I actually am fully aware of how lucky I am not to have to wake up for anything else (so far). Making the world better requires, first, valuing every single human being for being one, I think. I am convinced that for this to happen, one must have a better understanding and awareness of other points of view and perspectives, and this is only possible by getting in touch with people from other regions of the world.

Once you start looking at things from different perspectives, you then get to understand that the harmony of your community may not be the best for the fulfillment of all human beings and the environment, and that your comfort may have to be disturbed a bit for the sake of others and global "harmony". That's the limit I see in rural areas or in any place closed on itself. Brassens says it all in his "Ballad of Them Folks who were born in some place"(French song with english subtitles).

Youth migration, to me, enables the young generation to remove their "blinkers" and look at the world globally. Migration experiences may help make people "Citizens of the World" in parallel to their local or national identity. I believe that it is fundamental for “Moving Development Forward” for all and in a sustainable manner!

Social media and internet in general, to me, contribute much to this. I see a hope in ICTs, to enable people to live the benefits of migration in broadening their perspectives without deserting the beautiful heart of food and nutrition security, its field of opportunities and its Art of Life: rural areas.