Host families sought for International students in Barrington area

BY CARLA ALLEN

The Coast Guard

NovaNewsNow.com

As many as ten International Students could be attending Barrington Municipal High School this fall, but first they have to find homes.

Cynthia Duncan is the homestay coordinator for the Municipality of Barrington and Clarks Harbour. She’s actively seeking potential hosting families for the program and can provide first-hand experience for the curious. In the past two years she’s hosted German, Korean and Mexican students in her home.

“You can imagine what happens when you have children from all over the world intermingling with our own children – the things that they learn about culture, even about our own culture that they didn’t understand. It’s pretty amazing to have these kids there,” she said.

“The first time my Korean girl (Bori Kim) made me spicy noodles, it took my breath away,” laughed Duncan.

“Those times are times I won’t forget… the cultural differences. It adds to your family, unbelievably so.”

It’s been several years since BMHS last participated in the Nova Scotia International Student Program. Principal David Buckland says the school is excited about the arrival of the international youths.

“It’s always been a great experience for the kids here and the students that have come here,” he said.

“Let’s say you have a student from Germany in your global history/geography course. You can really utilize their experiences and their knowledge of their home country – historically, culturally, current events, etc. That’s one capacity that they could impact the classroom but they also impact the school and community just by being here, exposing our students to different diversity. It’s great in a lot of ways. I know one student here became friends with a boy from Mexico and they are still corresponding. That student went down to Mexico a few times. They form lifelong kinships,” he said.

International children are between the ages of 13 – 18 and arrive in August and February for the five or ten months program.

Families can choose which session to participate in, must provide a furnished room and three meals a day, and will be reimbursed $450 for expenses each month.

Participating countries include Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Thailand, Taiwan and Turkey.

Hosting families must have references and police checks and will receive a home visit from a NSISP representative.

For more information on the program, contact Duncan at 902-742-1527 or email ceduncan@eastlink.ca