The SPRING SUPER BOOSTER, April 10, 2018 – Page 4
Foreign students feel at home in Homestay Network By Murray Green
Camrose and surrounding communities are home for several junior and high school students throughout the first and second semesters. Canada Homestay Network relationship manager, Gail Rombough, places the students in host family homes, so both the students and the host families can share in the exchange. She also works for Battle River School Division. “We have students in Forestburg, Viking, Sedgewick, Hay Lakes, New Norway, Bashaw and Camrose. We have a Grade 8 student and a Grade 9 student coming, but it is predominantly high school-aged students,” said Gail. “The students are here to study and receive a Canadian experience. When the BRSD accepts the students, then I look for host families that would like to have an international experience.” They do not place students of the same nationality together with a host family, so they have a true connection international student. “We don’t want them from a similar country, so they have a learning experience. The exception is if they are brother and sister and it is requested they be at the same home,” shared Gail. “We promise an Englishspeaking environment, so they can learn the language, as well as the culture.” The host families often share the local sites with the students, so they become part of the community. Some group events are planned,
so all of the international students can visit together and take in larger trips to Drumheller, or to Edmonton. “We want the students to have a positive experience and have a good time. We want to break down barriers and stereotypes to learn about their culture as well.” The program currently has 30 students from other countries. At the semester break in late January and early February, some students went home, while others were arriving. “The group from Brazil were here only for the first semester. Some countries come for the English
and culture experience. Some come to receive the Canadian diploma. Some countries allow the credit go towards their education and some countries don’t. The student’s family pays all the tuition and homestay fee, not our taxpayers, this may factor in on the students length of stay. The program also accepts scholarship students. In that case, the students are sponsored by their government. Students work hard for those scholarships, so often BRSD receives very strong students.” In that case, the education is paid for by their government. “The Asian coun-
tries are more predominant here. Their culture really promotes overseas studies and the students can earn the credits,” explained Gail. She has been the relationship manager for three years. Before that, she hosted students in her home. Natasha Wilm, Battle River School Division director of cultural and international programs, recruits students to attend school in the area. “Where the students come from also depends where we go recruiting. When we go to a country to promote BRSD at a trade show, then we will see an
WORLDLY STUDENTS
File Photo, Camrose Booster Canadian high school students learn a lot from foreign visitors in the Homestay Network.
increase in students from that area,” added Natasha. “We develop relationships with agents in these countries and they promote our school division.” Once a student has decided they want a Canadian education or experience, then BRSD competes with other centres such as Ottawa and Edmonton. “We promote the fact that BRSD has smaller schools and more of a cultural exchange because of our rural connections. It is more of a personal experience and that is what they are looking for,” Natasha added. “The students receive more support in smaller communities. The parents like to know we are keeping track of the students.” Gail is always on the lookout for more host families. “We always need host families and it is a great way for people to learn another culture as well. Often the families get attached to the students and end up visiting them in their country. Most of the time people end up as friends for life,” said Gail. “We are looking for all types of homes. Some students want a quiet home so they can really study. Others want a lot of family members and pets, so they can have family fun. We match the homes to the students and it works out pretty well.” For more information, contact Gail at brsd@canadahomestaynetwork.ca or call Natasha Wilm at 780672-6131, ext. 5247.
Homestay students select Canada as their first choice By Murray Green
International students want to receive part of their education in Canada and learn first hand about the northern culture. Canada Homestay Network connects foreign students to the Battle River School Division. Two students from Brazil shared their experience, while preparing to go back home. “I call my host dad my dad because they are family to me. I didn’t choose, but if I could, I would choose Canada. People come back from trips to Canada and tell me how beautiful it is, and that people are really kind and happy to receive people from other countries. Christmas in Canada was amazing,” said Jefferson Dantas, a Grade 10 student in Bashaw. “Five years ago when this program started, my sister went to New Zealand. I also have friends who went to Canada, so I wanted to go to New Zealand or Canada. We don’t get to choose the country, they choose it for you,” said Eddie Bezerra, a Grade 11 student in Sedgewick. “I wanted to come to
Canada, so it worked out for me. You have snow here.” The two boys didn’t know each other until they met on the flight prior to coming to Alberta. They live on the opposite sides of the country. “It is a Brazilian’s dream to come here and see the snow. I couldn’t believe that the country I really wanted to come to was picked for me. Sometimes I have to stop and think that I am really here. It’s wonderful,” added Jefferson. “All my friends say you have to see the snow and have fun in it,” continued Eddie. “I was very excited to come here. I already want to come back again.” About 500 Brazil students are selected to study outside of the country. More than 300 of those end up in Canada. The rest went to Chili, Argentina and United States this year. “We are supposed to get good marks here, but it doesn’t give us credits back home,” explained Jefferson. “We are here to learn and develop more English, rather than high school credit. When we get back, we put together a project about our
experience in Canada and we will receive credits for that,” shared Eddie. They are thankful they landed in rural Alberta. “Again, if I could choose, I would go to a small place, like Bashaw because you get a chance to develop more relationships,” said Jefferson. “Everybody knows you when you go to a small place or small school. If you go to a large one, they may never notice you. It makes relationships easier,” said Eddie. Both boys are eager to tell their family and friends back home that they should go to Canada for a visit. “It was awesome here and I would encourage students to come here for the experience,” said Eddie. Jefferson said he enjoyed staying with a family that had two sisters and two brothers, so he could learn from them. “I really like kids, so I was happy to go to a larger family.” Eddie went to a family with children who had already left home. “I didn’t mind that, because that was awesome, too.” Although they grew up with soccer, they admitted
that they were not good players, and liked the volleyball and hockey in Canada. “I never heard of curling before, but we got the chance to try it,” said Eddie. “You learn the culture and I like it. I think my English is better now.” Both wanted to stay longer and vow to return. Steven Elias, his wife Jennifer and four children from Bashaw, welcomed Jefferson into their home. “It’s always been a passion of my wife’s to open our house to international students. This seemed like a natural fit and the first step. She connected with Gail (Rombough) of Canada Homestay Network. Our family loved having Jefferson and it is sad to see him go. However, as we speak, my wife is at the airport picking up another student, so we will have two students for three or four days before he goes home. This student is from Japan,” explained Steven. Denise and Stein Hardon were excited to add Eddie into the family. “We talked about it for awhile. Stein actually came over on an agricultural exchange (Denmark) and we met here.
Our three children have grown up and moved on. We have a big house with extra bedrooms, so we decided to give it a try. We have some friends from Killam who have done it for a few years. I actually went to school with Gail, so I knew about the program,” shared Denise. They, too, are receiving another student (from Korea) for the second semester. “It has been a great experience and it is amazing what you learn.” Not only do the host families learn about other countries, they also have a greater appreciation of their own backyard. “Sometimes we take them to see things that we haven’t seen. It gives us a chance to see Jasper or Banff that we normally wouldn’t take the time to do. It’s a chance to show off our backyard,” said Steven. “We’ve never gone to the mountains in the winter. It is the most beautiful place in the world,” added Denise. All host families say the same thing: they get attached to the students and it is a great experience.