we call this the international balloon fiesta for good reason. there are people from all over the world. i can’t even name all the different nations. australia, south africa. we have got some people from france with us right now. we are going to start a little closer to home. rio rancho. nancy oaks is a teacher at rio rancho high school, a french teacher, and alexia is a teacher who is here. >> that's right. the school in france sent three of their teachers and students to spend time with albuquerque families. >> welcome to new mexico. >> thanks. i'm happy to be here. >> your english is much better than my french here. i wanted to let you know that on wednesday, you folks are going to do a special demonstration, because anna has an important connection with the world of hot air ballooning. q. yes, it does, because it is outside the cradle of hot air ballooning because the very first balloon in the world ever came from our area in the south of france, and so this is where we come from. and tomorrow, we're going to — no, on wednesday, we're going to come with could say assumes and -- costumes, and owl our kids will be in costumes it 18th century, and we will make a procession to our balloon, which has just taken off. this one over there. >> the orange and yellow stripes. >> yes. the one we have got on my t-shirt. >> who is the picture on that balloon? >> we have got the picture of the two brothers, so they were the ones that realized that an inflated envelope can take off if it is filled in with smoke. they thought it was smoke at the beginning. they didn't realize it was hot hair. >> can you imagine what they would think if they could see this event today, hundreds of years late i think they would be so excited. just like we are. >> leah, how is your experience in new mexico, and with the balloon fiesta been so far? >> it's really big, and it's really joyful. >> well, we are glad that you're here. and we look forward to it. again, the procession of students ...