French students visit Newport

Andrew Edwards

The French Riviera and Newport-Mesa have more than sand and tourists

in common.

Seven high school students and one teacher from Antibes, France,

arrived in Newport Beach on Saturday to spend 12 days in California,

as part of an exchange-student program with the Newport Beach Sister

City Assn. The group landed at Los Angeles International Airport and

was shuttled to Newport, where they met their hosts at the city’s

central library.

“I want to see everything,” Antibes student Fanny Moulin said.

Moulin and the other exchange students did not linger at the

library, splitting up shortly after their arrival to rest with their

host families.

Fanny will stay with 17-year-old Mimie Tran and will join her in

classes at Mater Dei High School. Mimie is scheduled to complete the

exchange by traveling to Antibes in April.

Like Fanny, Mimie said she wants to see everything she can when

she gets to Antibes.

“I’ve never been to France before,” Mimie said.

Antibes is located on the French Riviera between Cannes and Nice.

Author Graham Greene lived in the city, which boasts a museum filled

with the works of Pablo Picasso, during his later years.

“It’s a very pretty area; you go there because of the beauty,”

Newport Beach Sister City Assn. president Connie Skibba said.

Last year, Corona del Mar High School student Michelle Atkins

traveled to Antibes as an exchange student. Atkins, 16, recalled

visiting the Riviera, shopping in Antibes and dining in French cafes.

“It was a really fun experience, and it helps you practice your

French,” Michelle said.

According to Marie Atkins, Michelle’s mother and a vice president

of the Sister City Assn., French teenagers spend more time in high

school than Americans. French high schools are in session from 8 a.m.

till 5 p.m., and a French graduate has the equivalent of an American

high school diploma, plus two years at a community college.

“They seem to have more classes,” Michelle said. “I think my girl

[host] last year took three different languages.”

A delegation from Newport Beach will travel to Antibes to

celebrate Bastille Day and the 15th year of the sister-city

relationship in July, Skibba said. Newport’s other sister cities are

Okazaki, Japan, and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.