French visitors take in NE Oklahoma

Thursday, September 19th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

You might not think of Pawhuska and France in the same sentence, but actually thereâ€™s quite a connection between the two. Itâ€™s a connection strong enough to bring a group of Frenchmen across the ocean to visit.

And Thursday, their journey brought them to Tulsa. Some Pawhuskans and their foreign friends are visiting Tulsa. Nearly three years ago, a group of Pawhuskans visited their sister city in France. Now, their French friends are visiting Green Country.

David Keathly, Pawhuska Chamber of Commerce: "So the formal relationship has been three years but the informal relationship between Montauban and Pawhuska has gone on for 173 years." And to keep the relationship thriving, Pawhuska's French friends are visiting the Sooner State. â€œWe understood through the Oklahoma department of commerce that this was a one of kind international school in the United States and we thought it would be wonderful for our guests to share lunch with the international students."

The 20-member French delegation dined on the cafeteria's best and observed this 5th grade French class. Catherine Seguy, Montauban Vice-Mayor of Education: "Iâ€™m so glad because the children can speak very well French and too Spanish." And these students linguistic talents might further this international connection. Catherine Seguy: "You know I am in charge of schools in Montauban and maybe if children are interested we can introduce them to French pupils."

The group also visited Philbrook Museum for a taste of Native American art and culture. But one French visitor says what she's really enjoyed about the trip has been the people. Marie Pouch, Montauban, Vice Mayor of Tourism: "We though that in America like in France and Europe, people are always in a hurry and here in Oklahoma people seem to be les in a hurry than other parts of world.

David Keathly: "Itâ€™s been an opportunity to create some lifelong friendships and we just think its one small thing we can do to encourage peace across the world." David Heathly says they'll be planning another trip to their sister city in Montauban France very soon.