In Christophe Guilhou's office, a portrait of the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, hangs on the wall, a gold-fringed French flag stands next to his desk and there's an elegant, classical bust on the windowsill. But the view outside Guilhou's windows isn't of the Champs-?lys?©es; rather, it's of a busy, downtown Boston intersection.Since arriving here in August as the newly appointed consul general of France in Boston, Guilhou has called Boston his home. In his long career in the French government, Guilhou has found himself in offices across the globe, overlooking cities like Abu Dhabi, Damascus, Geneva and, of course, Paris.While Paris remains the primary center of the French government's work, Guilhou, from the start of his career, had a decidedly international vision."I didn't imagine myself going to France, studying France and settling in the same place for 40 years with the same bakery ... and having the same neighbors," Guilhou said. "I love Paris, but at the same time I'm very happy being here and discovering [this] country."In his new role as leader of the French community in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, as well as the primary business and cultural representative between New England and France, he is just beginning his discoveries.At 47, Guilhou has lived in more places than most people ever hope to visit. His father was the French diplomat and Ambassador to Costa Rica, and as a result, he grew up with multiple homes in countries all over the world, some of which have included France, Spain, Italy, Costa Rica, Tanzania, Chile and Nigeria.After his intercontinental childhood, Guilhou developed an interest in international affairs and pursued a degree in political science at Paris' prestigious Sciences Po.In addition to taking an interest in political science, Guilhou said he "was fascinated by the Arab world and ... by Africa," which is why he also pursued Arabic and Swahili degrees at l'Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales."I have contracted a kind of virus," Guilhou said, reflecting on his childhood experiences with a smile. "I like to travel, and I like to know people and to understand [them]."His career has certainly allowed him that opportunity. Over the past decade and a half, Guilhou has served in France's African Department, the United Nations and the French Embassies in the United Arab Emirates and Syria. He has also held posts in the French Ministry of Health and French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Most recently, he worked at the United Nations in Geneva.Although Guilhou has held many different positions in widespread locales, he has enjoyed them all and said comparing the posts would be very difficult."Each one is a singular posting. You cannot compare Boston to Damascus because the issues in Damascus were very different. I love Damascus, I love Abu Dhabi, I enjoyed Geneva and I think I will be very happy here in Boston, but I wouldn't compare," he said."And why did I end up here in Boston? It was a personal choice. It has to match with the Ministry, but I wanted specifically to come to the U.S. because I think that the history of the U.S. ... is very interesting ... I came precisely because we have an excellent relationship between the two countries."Guilhou said he was most intrigued by the Northeast."I was very interested by New England and by Boston, specifically, because I think that Boston is a place like no other in the world where you have that concentration of knowledge and of expertise," Guilhou said."I wanted to be part of that; I wanted to bring my contribution and the contribution of my country to the movement and the innovation that takes place here in Boston and in the region."As consul general, Guilhou's job is to look after the French community, he said."The French community is about 10,000 people, but it's a very integrated community that poses no problem."Another one of Guilhou's main priorities is fostering cultural cooperation. He has worked hard to "to enhance the cooperation between [American] universities and research centers [and] their counterparts in France."Guilhou's appointment in Boston was also important to his family life. "It was the best opportunity to be here with them. I wanted them to share with me that new experience in the United States and in New England."Guilhou's wife, Nargues, was born in Iran and also works for the French Foreign service. The two met during their studies at Sciences Po in Paris.Their three children all attend the French school in Boston and have spent their childhoods moving with Guilhou wherever work took him. However, his eldest daughter, Roxanne, is nearing university age, so it "is the last chance to be the five of us together," he said.Boston is proving to be a fine home for the consul general and his family, who are all enjoying the lively character of their new neighborhood in Cambridge."It's not only about steel, concrete and glass; it's a very good combination," Guilhou said of Boston and its diverse neighborhoods. Guilhou is not yet sure where his next diplomatic appointment will be, but he suspects it might be back in Paris.
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