Today was a perfect day to begin my assignments in a place, a destination so many people around the world dream about visiting, France’s own iconic landmark Eiffel Tower, which was named after Gustave Eiffel the chief designer, built alongside the Seine River (www.eiffel-tower.com).

The Eiffel Tower, which was originally built for 1889’s World Fair, constructed with a $1,500,000 tab (enough for a nice mansion nowadays), is one of the world’s most recognized structures, weighing over 10,000 tons.

In the last days of the World War II, as the allies neared Paris, Hitler ordered General Dietrich von Choltitz, the military governor of Paris, to demolish the tower, and gratefully, Von Choltitz disobeyed the order. If Von Choltitz obeyed that order, we would never have been able to tour the Eiffel Tower. The lifts of the Tower were working normally within hours of the Liberation of Paris, victoriously.

I thought, “It is a true milestone with the tower welcoming more than 240 million visitors since 1889,” even as Hitler turns over in his grave totally defeated. It is said, that “even as Hitler conquered France, he couldn’t match Eiffel Tower’s resilience.”

The Eiffel Tower was within walking distance from the hotel. The sky was clear blue with a few clouds making it perfect for taking photos and doing the video report. As I walked toward the towering Eiffel landmark, I felt goosebumps, because this was a building that the designer Eiffel obtained a city permit to stand for only 20 years, it was scheduled to be dismantled in the year 1909, when ownership reverted to the City of Paris. The plans to dismantle it was dropped when the city realized that the tower proved valuable for communication purposes, the Eiffel Tower got a new reprieve as a landmark despite the expiration of the permit.

Inside, we picked up the media badges amidst the throngs of tourists crowding the Eiffel Tower premises, the same time crossing my fingers hoping to become the 240,000,001st visitor to walk through the gates of the historic tourist attraction.

The first lift was from one of the four pillars that leads up to the 2nd level observation. I observed people walking around on the 2nd level and it was fun watching their facial expressions when they looked down at the city of Paris, it’s a dizzying sight. We took one more lift to the top observation deck of the tower where it stands at approximately 1,063 feet.

There, we displayed the DeafNation banner conquering the Eiffel Tower, with emotions building up inside of me because we are very passionate about the fact that Deaf people can do anything.

As we headed back down to the lower observation, I could see a perfect “S” shape of the line the tourists formed without any posts or ropes, it was formed by natural instincts. I could only wonder.

Mitko advised us “that we should walk down the stairs at the lower level to get an authentic feeling of the enormity of this tall structure,” and it was worth taking his suggestion because of the great experience taking the lifts and walking the stairs, some of the 1,665 steps, it would have taken too much time to walk all the way up and back down unless we weren’t in a rush.

From the Eiffel Tower, we walked through the maze of Paris to Viable France’s new office. The building just had been completed a few weeks ago with high technology, built exclusively for new technology companies. Viable France is one the companies.

Fanny Yeh-Corderoy du Tiers, the sister of Viable founder John T.C. Yeh, opened the office in the very heart of Paris. I was very impressed with her new employees, many of them are Deaf and highly talented just like those at Viable’s office in the United States. Fanny was certainly so busy preparing the grand opening reception with our live Internet coverage, it was a day she and her brother John had been looking forward to.

As you know, in regards to live Internet coverages, technology was never meant to be perfect, because at the Viable France office, the Internet was down, posing as a possible problem to running a successful live Internet webcast scheduled to run soon therafter.

Despite the hitches, I never lost faith in the Viable France staff, it was a good feeling knowing we were in very capable hands.

And guess what? The Internet, thanks to Viable France, was hooked up just a few minutes before our live Internet coverage was scheduled to begin, it was impeccable timing, making our coverage largely successful.

Viable France also hosted the premiere with new Viable representatives from 8 other countries, with the Reunion, France’s own island being the most remote country participating. Mark Wheatley, who came from one of the largest Deaf families in England that can trace its deaf lineage from the 18th century, who also is one of our 2010 DeafNation World Conference & Expo’s keynote speakers, was present at Viable France’s premiere.

John Yeh, Viable’s founder, was walking around with the Viable VPAD meeting people, while at the same time his headquarters’ employees greeted whoever looked at the VPAD screen, with their images on the screen signing back at the people who stood looking at Yeh physically and his company employees wirelessly. Neat, huh?

“This generation has great technology,” I thought, awestruck by this milestone event for France, and all the other countries that stood to benefit from advances in technology and accessibility.

I was so extremely excited about the Viable France’s headquarters’ premiere plus DeafNation’s live Internet coverage allowing viewers around the world to witness the grand opening of Viable France’s new office.

Viable France had so many important people from the French government giving presentations, and I could see it was “a big step for Deaf people in France having the same accessibility to a true VRS service,” just like America has. I am very thrilled over the fact that this generation and the future generations will have equal accessibility with Viable.

It is also big step for Viable as one of the potentially true global video relay service providers, too.

John’s brother, Joseph was there to be a part of their historic moment, and I could see their faces “glowing” being proud of their company. John had expressed that he wanted to see “future generations of Deaf people having wonderful access, empowering them to do better in the future.”

I seconded him, seeing his dream come true brought great closure of my France tour!

Viable just tore down a barrier that once hindered untold numbers of Deaf people; the spirits of Clerc, L’Epree, Gallaudet, and Sicard are smiling approvingly of Viable’s good work in extending video relay services from America to Europe and beyond.

Related posts:

1. In France: The World's Oldest Deaf School
2. In France: Garlic Buttered Escargot-Comtois Snails
3. In Airspace with a French Deaf Pilot
4. A Deaf Winery in France: Domaine de Grange Neuve
5. Marseille Soap saves Day
6. Basque city in the Bayonne
7. The Mediterranean Experience: Visit with Deaf Ceramist
8. Paying Respects to Laurent Clerc