TWO teenagers have swapped places as part of an annual arrangement between Haddington and Aubigny sur Nere.

The two towns are celebrating 50 years of a twinning arrangement and one of the strands of that agreement has seen Haddington youngsters spend a month in the French town, with someone from Aubigny coming in the opposite direction.

Rebecca Swinton returned to Haddington last Sunday after a month in France, while Savinien Gauchet heads back to France on August 27.

Rebecca, 16, is in her final year at Knox Academy and said: “It was great and I really enjoyed it.

“The people were really nice and I enjoyed working in the centre de loisiris [recreation centre] and the tourist office was good fun as well.

“I was staying with four different families for about a week each.

“It was nice to see different people and live their life.” The four-week trip came about through Knox Academy.

Youngsters can put themselves forward for the Haddington-Aubigny Twinning Scholarship and write about themselves before being interviewed by a representative from Haddington Twinning Association and a teacher at the school.

A short article even appeared in the local Aubigny newspaper and Rebecca, of Alderston Meadows, said: “I think my French has improved. Perhaps, as other people say, it has improved more than I think.

“I was able to understand most of what was said by the end of the month.

“I did have to ask them to speak slower to begin with but by the end of it I understood a lot more than when I first arrived.” Meanwhile, 18-year-old Savinien, has been embracing East Lothian life since July 22.

He said: “I’ve been to the airshow and I have been to Edinburgh twice. The first time I went to Edinburgh Castle and after that I went to the National Museum.

“The second time I went to the cinema and saw Ant-Man, which was very funny. I’ve also been to parties and made lots of friends.” He has been working with East Lothian Council’s transportation unit, going out to various sites around the county, and plans to go on and study civil engineering.

Savinien felt the trip had also benefited his English; he said: “I think more in English and I’ve learned how to say all the little things that I did not really know how to say when I was in France – just little words like ‘both’ or ‘until’.

“Also, little things like ‘Weegies’ and things like saying ‘cheers’.” Speaking last Friday, he thanked the families he had been staying with and was gearing up to head to Musselburgh Racecourse, as well as North Berwick Highland Games.