Left to right, top to bottom. Marie-Michèle, Kristin, Johanna, Ine, Jillian. Frieda, Lara, Matilda, Louise, Mar, Hannah, Fraya, Sarah, Emma, Michael, Charlotte, Mrs. Powell, Rebecca, Elea, Luisa, Janka, Melina, Anaelle, Robert, Adewel, Panh, Fernando, Rachael, ??, Lisako, Lalune, Maria.
Meet 22 of our wonderful international pipers! And 8 of our (also wonderful) mentors along with Mrs. Powell, a teacher at Galt, and Marie-Michèle, the homestay coordinator for all the students in the program.
We strongly encourage younger students to take part in the program in the upcoming years or at least get to know some of these students from the other side of the world. This program will bring you friendship, adventure, laughter, and many smiles. We are hoping to spread a little awareness about this program and introduce you to some of our awesome 2022-2023 international students!
But first, we will start with the very root of the program… Marie-Michèle. She used to work in tourism but has now been at Galt for 5 years, just recently starting her job full-time. She is the homestay coordinator at Galt and deals with host families and the personal aspect of the International Students’ lives. She additionally ensures their well-being and makes sure they live a happy, suitable life here in Canada. She thinks she has one of the best jobs in the world and enjoys working with teenagers as well as meeting people from all different perspectives without having to even leave Sherbrooke. Through her job, Marie-Michèle has met some incredible people, has had the opportunity to visit different places across Canada, and has had the privilege to work closely with homestay families. Simply said, she’s a very important part of the program and of the international students' lives.
While many students stay all school year, some of them will leave in January or arrive in February. For this student, it’s his second year coming back to Galt. Meet 16 year-old Panh Saengsok. He grew up in Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, so it’s easy to say it was a very big change for him when he arrived in Quebec. Because Panh grew up in such a different society, he experienced culture shock when arriving here last year. Studying abroad has not always been easy and he describes it as being lost in the dark at first but Panh had the opportunity to meet some awesome people who would soon become his close friends such as multiple mentors in the program or other international students. For Panh, not only was the culture different but it was also his first time experiencing snow. He says he likes it a lot and he has enjoyed the winter activities here such as ice skating and skiing. Panh has also been able to live many other typical Canadian activities, like the ultimate one; watching a hockey game.
When asked what made him come to Galt, Panh answered that he wanted to study in english and that his father saw this as an opportunity for him to be educated in a bilingual environment. Panh speaks 4 languages; French, English, Thai, and Chinese. He also speaks a little Japanese. In his second year here, his sister Lalune joined him and he claims to have come back because he loves Canada and wishes to continue his schooling here in Quebec afterwards.
Back in November, we interviewed Louise Schneider, one of our international students from Germany. When first asked what it was like being in Canada, she stated “there isn’t anything to complain about, it’s become like a second home”. Apparently, last year one of her relatives stayed in BC for ten months, however Louise wanted to go somewhere with two languages, so Quebec it is! Her favourite part since November was having gone to Quebec City. Before the winter settled in, she looked most forward to skiing and experiencing Christmas in Canada with her host family. She claims her greatest culture shock was the “milk in a bag” and her favourite part of being an international student is the experience she will have, how she’s learning new things everyday and how it will impact her life. She loves the people, really the whole experience.
We also took time to contact one of our ex-international students, Jost Jiu to know what was a culture shock he experienced when coming to Canada as well as his favourite part of this experience. His answer for the culture shock is what can be expected as he answers the food was the biggest part of it, especially the bread. Ask any European and many of them will take much pride in their delicious bread. His favourite parts of the experience were the school and its activities and especially the friends he made along the way.
Every year, the program offers International Students and their mentors activities each month to make them live the true Canadian experience. From visiting Montreal, Quebec, and Ottawa to watching a hockey game, going to the sugar shack, and going skiing, the program offers it all. Earlier this year in October, a number of international students and mentors went to Vieux-Québec and visited local attractions such as the Montmorency Falls, the Bora Park, the Wendake village and enjoyed some free time in the city coloured with the falling leaves of autumn bringing out the chateau Frontenac’s red and green colours. They also went to Montreal and a Phoenix hockey game (the true Canadian experience) as well as try winter sports such as ice-skating, sledding, mountain biking, and skiing this winter. For some students, Canada was the first time they ever saw snow. This program assures that they can enjoy it and try all the different experiences that are unique to Canada, or that they perhaps have simply never tried. Either way, they are promised a bunch of new and exciting experiences!
We hope this article made you want to get more involved with international students and that you got to know a few of them a little better. We also hope you get involved in the program or simply help in making the International Pipers from all over the world feel at home here in Canada and at Alexander Galt.
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