FAIRFIELD, CT — Seven students and two teachers from Thomas d'Aquin schools in Lyon, France this week wrapped up a two-week stint in Fairfield with Fairfield Warde High School students as part of the school's exchange student program.
Run by Warde French teacher Rabia Mairech, the 42-year-old program has two parts every two years, in the fall French students come to Fairfield and stay with host families, and in the spring during the April break, Fairfield students head to France.
"It's a wonderful exchange," Mairech told Patch. "I know people, who have been in the program, become friends, and they come, and be like, 'oh, we want to see, so-so, in France.' It's amazing. I believe in it."
The program gives students from both countries an opportunity to experience each other's cultures and education systems while improving their French and English language skills, according to school officials.
On Friday, a day before the students return to France, Warde held a short graduation ceremony for the French students. As they've seen in American movies, the students moved their tassels to the left and tossed them in the air.
In April 2027, 15 Warde students will go to Lyon, France for the second part of the exchange.
Hugo Ceneicynyel, one of the French students, said he and the other students learned a lot about American culture while in Fairfield, and he got a chance to visit New York City.
"It was really incredible," he said, adding that he hopes to attend college in the United States to play basketball. "My host family was just wonderful."
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