Saturday afternoon, Kraynak's Santa Christmas Land was filled with busy shoppers all searching for just the right touch to make their holiday celebrations complete.

And among the multitude drawn to the Hermitage store were several young people dressed in jeans, T-shirts and sweaters who had traveled thousands of miles on the way to an afternoon of holiday sightseeing here.

Seven cultural exchange students from Rotary Youth Exchange, district 7280, helped ring in the season with a Christmas party hosted by Sharon Rotary and Sharon High School Interact clubs.

In addition to Kraynak's, the students -- who hail from Ecuador, Thailand, Argentina, Venezuela, Turkey, Germany and France -- also paid a visit to Joy Cone Co. in Hermitage. There they were given a special behind-the-scenes look into the way the sweet crunchy treats are produced.

The students, while preparing to attend a Christmas play and participate in some "cosmic bowling" at Buzzy's Ten Pin Alley in Hermitage, took a break from their celebrations to speak about their experiences thus far in the United States.

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