HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2015-12-17, Page 7THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2015. PAGE 7.
Walton, Brussels families welcome Homestay students
Winter in Canada
Albert Pallas, left, and Matheus Souza, right, have been
spending time with Brenda Nyveld and her family near
Walton on Canada Company Road. They have noticed
plenty of differences between their home countries of Spain
and Brazil, respectively, including their school workloads
and the familiar faces they see in some of Ontario’s larger
city centres. (Denny Scott photo)
Matheus Souza and Albert Pallas
have learned a lot during their time
in Canada, and can’t wait to tell their
friends and family about it when the
get home.
Souza, from Brazil, and Pallas,
from Spain, are staying with Brenda
Nyveld and her family near Walton
as part of the Avon Maitland District
School Board’s Homestay program.
Souza said that he is enjoying
everything about being in Huron
County and Canada, but said that
some of the best places are a little
further afield than Blyth or Walton
or the surrounding villages.
“I like the Canadian places, like
Toronto and Niagara Falls and
Guelph and Kitchener,” he said.
“The places like that are great. I like
them because there are a lot of
people from different parts of the
world. I can talk to them and
understand their cultures and they
are different from our culture so we
can understand them a little bit
more.”
Pallas also enjoys the cities in
Ontario, saying that he enjoys the
change of pace.
Souza also pointed to the weather,
which is a big change, but said that
school is very different.
“In Brazil I have 15 subjects, and
here there are four subjects and four
classes a day,” he said. “In Brazil I
have nine classes a day.
“Only studying for four classes is
a lot different, even with the second
semester for eight courses in total,”
he said. “It’s very easy.”
Pallas agreed, saying that, aside
from the language barrier, school is
much easier for him.
“It’s easy, very easy,” he said. “But
here in Canada there are classes like
wood shop that we don’t have in
Spain, so there are some very
different experiences.”
The two go to school at Central
Huron Secondary School in Clinton.
As far as going home, Pallas was
set to leave Friday, Dec. 18 and said
he was excited to tell his friends and
family about the experience.
“I’ve learned a lot about the area
and Blyth,” he said. “It’s really very
nice here.”
Souza said that when he gets
home, he wants to explain what he
has gained from the experience.
“I learned how to live with
different cultures, how to improve
my English and how to improve my
French,” he said. “That’s something
that was different, learning French.”
He said he is looking forward to
telling his friends and family about
coming to another country and doing
his best to live there with those
different experiences.
The Homestay program welcomes
students from across the world and,
last year, had nearly 160 students
staying with host families and
attending elementary and high
schools in the board.
This year, families across the area
are again participating including the
Nyvelds and the Haskin family in
Brussels who welcomed Matheus
Cruz from Brazil who is attending
F.E. Madill Secondary School.
The length of the program can
span from several weeks to a year.
Estimates have the school board
earning $12,000 for year-long stays
for tuition in secondary school and
$11,000 for elementary schools. The
board can also increase the number
of classes it has by increasing the
number of students in this program.
As far as the host communities are
considered, Avon Maitland
representatives estimate that $2
million is coming to the school
board and community in tuition and
spin-off costs.
More host families are always
being sought for the program. For
more information, visit
yourschoolsincanada.com or call
519-636-8409.
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By Denny Scott
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