POULSBO — For the past three years, North Kitsap High School French teacher Keith Johnson has helped his classes exchange letters and videos with classrooms full of French students across the Atlantic Ocean.

This summer, that spirit of friendship was extended further.

Johnson and his wife travelled to France and stayed in the home of the teacher of the French students who have been pen pals with NKHS students.

And while they did, the French teacher and her husband flew overseas and visited North Kitsap High School.

Joëlle Raige, who teaches English, and husband Alain visited North Kitsap in late July and stayed a few days with the Johnsons while Keith and his family took them to visit North Kitsap High School and a few other Northwest sites.

The visitors from France were impressed by the high school.

“That was interesting to me,” said Joëlle, who teaches at a middle school in Manosque, a French town with about 20,000 residents. “The buildings are spacious. It’s a beautiful area and surroundings. Our schools in France are not as nice.”

“What I thought was interesting was that there were pictures of star students (on the walls). It’s a good way to emphasize the positive,” Joëlle added.

The Raiges did not limit their visit to North Kitsap. Avid camper and hikers, they travelled all over the western half of the state, visiting parks in Quilcene, Mt. Townsend, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Saint Helens (where Joëlle bought videotapes for her students), Mt. Hood, and the Columbia River.

Joëlle said it was nice to visit the places she and Alain had read about.

“My husband has read Lewis and Clark stories, and so have I,” she explained. “The history of western Washington is very interesting.”

The couple also visited Seattle (and REI), stopping at such standard destinations as Pioneer Square, the Klondike Museum, and the Pike Place Market — “All the touristy places,” Joëlle said.

While the Raiges stayed in North Kitsap, the Johnsons travelled to France, helping with the restoration of a castle in the southern part of the country. Although the site of the restoration was too far away to stay in the Raiges’ house during the week, the Johnsons stayed there for a weekend and used the Raiges’ car.

The visits were just an extension of the friendship that has grown between the two teachers’ classes.

Over the past few years, students have exchanged letters and sometimes videotapes — showing students from the other nation what kind of country and community they live in. Joëlle said the program is successful for a simple reason.

“It’s teenagers their age,” she said. “They can share things about music, sports, and film stars.”

The Raiges returned to France Aug. 15 with plenty of books and videotapes to show their students (as well as clothes purchased from REI, which they love).

They brought home much more, though.

“Poulsbo is a very, very beautiful place,” Joëlle said. “We’re going back with wonderful memories.”