Enjoying their visit to the Disneyland outside of Paris, France, were (l-r): Miriam Massoubre, sister of Hannah, Mickey Mouse, Hannah Massoubre and Anita Maksymchuk.
By Larry Caballero
Hawaiian Gardens teen Anita Maksymchuk was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Cerritos-Artesia to be its exchange student to France during the summer where she spent five weeks exploring and enjoying the wonders that only can be found in this beautiful European country.
“It was really helpful practicing my French in France. I learned a lot in school, my teacher is great, but actually having to speak it day in and day out really makes a difference.”
She stayed with 16-year-old Hannah Massoubre in her home in Lyon, France, and loved traveling to Disneyland, outside of Paris, and visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral near Marseille.
Massoubre has traveled to the United States before, and she has visited San Francisco, as well as New Mexico where her sister was living as an exchange student. She has already visited all of the local amusement parks, but she wants to see the Hollywood sign up close before returning to her country.
“The French people, weather and food were great, and I was surprised by how many cars are on the streets,” said Maksymchuk, “I expected the residents would be riding bicycles or motorcycles.”
She enjoyed participating in the everyday activities of the people she met and was surprised that so many people would want to know what she thought of Trump as a Presidential candidate.
Maksymchuk was born in the Ukraine, moved to Maryland ten years ago when she was seven-years-old, and finally settled in Hawaiian Gardens. She attends Los Alamitos High and has taken French for the last four years. She plans to start school in September and is eager to register for her fifth year of French.
