“People are so friendly here, they are so prepared to welcome people from other countries.”
Those are words from Camilly Zanchetta who is from Brazil, one of more than 250-plus international students who enjoyed a fun afternoon and barbecue at Transfer Beach.
“I think it’s like an amazing place, I like all the nature and the beauty and all the friends. It truly is a beautiful place,” said Zanchetta, who has been here since last September. It is her first experience here.
School District 68 (Nanaimo/Ladysmith), along with many others across the province, host students from around the world. Former Ladysmith mayor Rob Hutchins, principal of the International program for the district said all schools have the opportunity to host international students.
"If the school has space. We have six secondary schools and 28 elementary schools in the district enrolling approximately 15,000 Canadian students. Annually, approximately 350 to 450 join us each year. This year international students can be found in 18 of our schools. Our program is available to students in K-12, however, elementary students are not in our homestay program. They are accompanied by one or both of their parents, or live with a close relative,” Hutchins said. “This year about 20 per cent live with relatives or family friends.”
At Transfer Beach Rike Tima, from Germany, enjoyed a tug-of-war with visiting students from other schools.
“This is my first trip to Canada and I love it,” she said. “The people are so friendly here, they say 'hi' to you but back home they don’t do that, the people don’t talk to each other and you have the mountains and the water right together.”
Another student from Germany, Georgia Schuerman, a Grade 10 student at LSS, also commented about the people.
“This is my first trip to Canada and I love it. I love the school and I love the people. You can speak to people in the grocery store, it’s all lovely.”
Hutchins said students involved in the program have to be independent and curious.
“It takes both courage and self-confidence to leave your home and travel to a new country and live in a new community, with a new family, enroll in a new school where at first everyone is a stranger to you, and where everyone speaks a different language from your home country. The students [are] curious about our world and different cultures and wants to learn more by first hand experience,” he said. “International students often come with the goal to improve their English skills through an immersion process, as proficiency in English is highly valued in their home country.”
Moira Dolen, who is a teacher and International Student Advisor at Ladysmith Secondary said this year they had 47 international students at LSS.
"Some students arrive for a semester, some students stay for the full year," she said. "Students typically come in their Grade 11 year but we host students from Grades 8 to 12. This year we had five Grade 8s and five Grade 12 students. Very few students graduate with a B.C. diploma but we did have one student who will be graduating from LSS and going to VIU in the fall.”
Ezel Cagalayan is a student from Turkey.
“I love it here and I really hope to graduate here. I am going to go to VIU next year but there I will live on the dormitories.
“I am really happy that I choose here, there is great vibe,” she said of Ladysmith.
A second Grade 12 student from Turkey, Ece Ozelli, said “I live far away from Ezel, it is large like Vancouver Island. I plan on going to university in Vancouver and study culinary arts, it’s amazing here.”
Grades students get here apply in their country of origin, for the most part.
"Except Germany," said Hutchins. "However, this one is complicated to explain. It depends which province in Germany they come from, and if they are here for one semester or a year.”
Dolen said international students are encouraged to join as many clubs and activities as possible to have an authentic Canadian experience.
"Many students who study in Ladysmith are surprised by the amount of elective courses and extra-curriculars offered in our schools, as this is not their educational experience at home," she said. "Participating in outdoor education or yoga classes, playing a school sport, or joining a school club are often highlights for our international students, who typically do not have the option at home.”
Host families are mostly decided through student recruitment agents in various countries, Hutchins said.
“This year we have students from 27 different countries (including Canada). Interestingly, we have a student from Quebec [who] joined us at LSS this year as a fee paying student.”
Wrapping up the afternoon at Transfer Beach Dolen said Ladysmith Secondary is a very welcoming community.
“When students first arrive, they often seek out peers from their home country, but as the school year progresses, they quickly join school clubs, sports teams and extra-curriculars," she said. "Our international students really enrich our programs and often build friendships that will last a lifetime. Many return to Ladysmith to visit with their host families or friends, and some Canadian students will travel abroad to visit with the international friends that they made.”
