( CNN ) -- Following this week 's tough talks on the global financial crisis , President Obama on Friday shifted his tone to reflect upon his regrets , his frustrations and his hopes for the younger generation . `` There 's nothing more noble than public service , '' President Obama says . Obama 's remarks came after a woman from Heidelberg , Germany , asked if he ever regretted having run for president . The question yielded a lengthy response from Obama , who is participating in his first overseas trip in office . `` That 's a good question , '' Obama said at a packed town hall meeting in Strasbourg , France . `` Michelle definitely asked that question . `` You know , there have been times , certainly during the campaign , and there have been times over the last several months where you feel a lot of weight on your shoulders . There 's no doubt about it , '' the president said . With his wife , Michelle , looking on , Obama continued , `` During the campaign , the biggest sacrifice -- the thing that was most difficult was that I was away from my family all the time . '' Watch Obama weigh in on his regrets and sacrifices » . The president joked that he was jealous of not only Europe 's high-speed rail but also the fact that campaigns there only last a few months . Obama announced that he was running for president on February 10 , 2007 , and was inaugurated nearly two years later . `` So I was away from home all the time , and that was very difficult , because not only do I have a wonderful wife , but I have two perfect daughters , and so , you know , I missed them a lot , '' he said . The president expressed disappointment about the lack of privacy and anonymity he 's experienced since assuming office . `` You know , it 's very frustrating now , '' he said . `` It used to be when I came to Europe that I could just wander down to a cafe and sit and have some wine and watch people go by and go into a little shop and watch the sun go down . `` Now I 'm in hotel rooms all the time . And I have security around me all the time . So just losing that ability to just take a walk , you know ? That is something that is frustrating . '' Take a look at Obama 's European itinerary » . After a couple of minutes of going over his regrets , Obama paused . `` But -- having said all that , I truly believe that there 's nothing more noble than public service , '' he said , adding that service does n't mean one has to run for president . Obama pointed to Doctors Without Borders , the United Nations and community work as examples of other ways to serve . `` But the point is that what I found at a very young age was that if you can only think about yourself -- 'How much money can I make ? What can I buy ? How nice is my house ? What kind of fancy car do I have ? ' -- that over the long term , I think you get bored , '' he told the audience of mostly students . `` I think if you 're only thinking about yourself , your life becomes diminished , and the way to live a full life is to think about what can I do for others , how can I be a part of this larger project of making a better world , '' he said . Obama said with all the challenges facing the world now , the younger generation has an abundance of opportunities to make a difference . `` It would be a tragedy if all of you who are so talented and energetic -- if you let that go to waste , if you just stood back and watched the world pass you by , '' he said . `` Better to jump in , get involved -- and it does mean that sometimes you 'll get criticized and sometimes you 'll fail and sometimes you 'll be disappointed -- but you 'll have a great adventure . And at the end of your life , hopefully you 'll be able to look back and say , ' I made a difference . ' ``
President Obama says being away from family biggest sacrifice of campaign . He also tells the story about his wife and daughter who are in college now. Question about regrets leads to Obama 's lengthy response at French town hall .