Students from Asia are at home in Maple Lake

Pei-cheih Lee and Ngoc Anh Ha came from abroad to explore the American culture as foreign exchange students at Maple Lake High School.

Pei-cheih Lee (Pei, pronounced Pay) was a foreign exchange student in Maple Lake during 2007-2008. She returned in the fall of 2008 for a second year.

Now, she is preparing to graduate from Maple Lake High School with the Class of 2009.

Ngoc Anh Ha (Natalie) moved to Maple Lake in the fall of 2008 and has enjoyed her stay, learning about the culture.

The two girls, who have become best friends, have each found a new home in Minnesota that they hope to return to again next year.

Natalie is from Binh Diuong Province, located in the southern portion of Vietnam.

She first arrived in America in July 2008. Natalie attended summer school in California with other foreign exchange students before moving to Minnesota to live with Doug and Liz Knese and their daughter, Renita.

Read more about Natalie and Pei in this week’s issue of the Messenger.