Help Bring My 1970 VW Beetle to France – For My Music Dream.

Hello, first things first, I’m really grateful you’re here. So, thank you.

I’m raising funds to bring my 1970 Volkswagen Beetle all the way from the U.S. to Annecy, France, where I now call home. Why? Because I have just been accepted into the music program at the Annecy Music Conservatory, a dream come true! But to make this dream real, I need transportation...

This car means more to me than I can easily put into words, and bringing it here is not just sentimental, it’s also the most practical and meaningful way to get where I need to go.

This isn’t just a car. It’s a piece of my home, my family, and my heart. It’s something I shared with my father before he died, and with my brother. It’s one of the last physical things that still connects me to those memories...

I’ve owned this Beetle for almost a decade. I found it with my father, bought it with my father, and we fixed it up together when I was 19. It’s full of character and very cherished memories. And every time I think about it just sitting in storage while I live in another country, something in me says: “You can't leave it behind.”

And, I can't leave it behind.

I’ve looked at other cars here in France, but they’re expensive. And honestly? They don’t mean anything to me. But, it's simple, shipping my Beetle across the ocean will actually cost less than buying a used car here, and it would give me something that no amount of money or car could replace. I have considered selling it, of course, but I just can't, and if one day I do decide to do that, it would sell for 3x the amount here in France because it is seen as a collector's item. Surprising, but another reason why this is the smartest option. Of course I hope that day never comes, I can't imagine selling it, but in every scenario, the smartest option is to get it here, and use it, so that I can make my music dream a reality. A long-awaited reunion.

Recently, I was accepted into the Annecy Music Conservatory, one of the most respected conservatories in France. I studied music in college but I never had the chance to finish my degree. After college, over ten years ago, I stopped playing. But this year, I decided to pick up my trumpet again, and audition… I don’t know why exactly, but I did. All I know is that I need music back in my life. It’s what I’m here for. And to my surprise, after my audition they were excited and genuinely happy to have me! They welcomed me with open arms. It is truly incredible.

This is a rare and special opportunity, and I feel like I have to take it. Music has always been the most important thing to me. But to get to my classes, orchestra rehearsals, and performances, I need a car. Public transportation doesn’t always reach the different campuses or rehearsal venues at the times needed, especially with instruments, and I will still be working full-time as well. I need transportation for all of that.

Bringing my Beetle here will not only bring me something sentimental and deeply meaningful, but it’s for this reason that I’m asking for help. To make my actual dream come true. To study and play music again, get my degree, and see where it takes me. This is the smartest option. And right now, I finally have the chance to get back on the road I know that I’m meant to be on. Back on the road, figuratively and literally!

What I’m asking for:

The total cost to ship it, get it through customs, and make it road-legal here in France is about $4,000. That is the goal. But I’m starting with a smaller milestone goal of $1,300, to get the ball rolling.

Here’s what that full cost covers:

That’s all I need to bring this important part of my life with me, and keep it alive.

Why it matters:

This car is one of the last things that truly feels like mine. It carries stories, memories, and love. And in a world where everything can feel temporary, this little car still feels real.

If you’ve ever had something that reminded you of someone you love, or that helped you feel grounded when everything else was changing, im sure you understand. If you have ever had a dream, and there was just one small obstacle standing in your way, and you push the dream aside again, like we all do with lifes ups and downs, im sure you understand. I dont want to keep putting the dream aside, life it too short, way too short, as we all see more and more each day.

If you can give anything, I’m deeply grateful. And even if you can’t, just sharing this to your friends or family means the world to me.

I really feel like this is possible.

Anything is.

So thats it, and all that there is left to say is...

Thank you!

Merci!

-Kam-