Huron Expositor, 2006-07-26, Page 8Page 8 July 26, 2006 • The Huron Expositor
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News
Two area families welcome students from
overseasorLionsouth Exchang� prograrn
did notice one similarity.
"You are proud to be Canadian
and we are very proud (to be
Polish)," he says. "We have fought
for our independence for 126 years."
"Canadians are friendly and very
open to strangers," he adds.
Kucerova says she was taken
aback by the showing of patriotism
in not just Canada, but Huron
County.
"There are flags everywhere. We
don't have that (back home)," she
says.
Kucerova and Stajgis were among
17 participants that arrived in late
June. '
With -their host families, the stu-
dents visited some of the major
attractions in the area.
"Niagara Falls and the CN Tower
are beautiful,_ "� recalls - Kucerova.
"Sauble Beach. was also so nice."
Stajgis recalls his trip to the CN
Tower as an interesting one, consid-
ering -he's afraid of heights, but
notes the trip to the Labatt's
Brewery as one of the highlights.
Aside from the travelling; all of
the participants spent one week at a
camp in Kingsbridge, where they
had the opportunity to meet some of
their fellow travellers, while playing
games and sports and having a
dance.
And, as it turns out, at least for
Kucerova and Stajgis, the time
spent there, was among their best.
"The camp was about getting to
know new peo-
ple," says
Kucerova, "and
learn about their
countries."
"You have
new friends
around the
world, not just in
the country you
live," she adds.
Stajgis says
he's made many
friends at the
camp and plans
to keep corre-
sponding with
many of them,
even possibly
travel to see
some of them in
Europe.
"I feel like
I've known these
Jeff Heuchert
It's been a month both Lenka
Kucerova, of the Czech Republic
and Peter Stajgis, of Poland, will
not forget.
Kucerova and Stajgis, both 19,
spent the past four weeks living in
Huron County - Kucerova with
Peter and Janis Bisback, of Hensall
and Stajgis with Bob Fisher and
Sandy Smithers, of Egmondville
as part of the Lions Club Youth
Exchange program.
It was the fourth trip for Kucerova
through the Lions program, having
previously gone to Slovakia, Austria
and Norway.
And it was the first trip for
Stajgis, who says while there are
plenty of differences between
Canada and his home country, he
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CASE H/
Jeff Heuchert photo
Pictured are Bob Fisher and Sandy Smithers, of Egmondville, with their
exchange student Peter Stajgis, of Poland, and Janis Bisback, of Hensall, with
her student Lenka Kucerova, of the Czech Republic.
people for years," he says of his new
friends.
The exchange program was also a
new experience for their host fami-
lies.
Not being a member of the Lions
Club, Janis Bisback says she
`I feel like I've
known these
people for
years,' --
Exchange student
Peter Stajgis, of
Poland
learned of the program through
friends who have participated in the
program many times before.
"I thought, how hard could it be to
look after a teenager?" says
Bisback. "You just have to feed them
and drive them places," she jokes.
Her advice to anyone considering
participating in the exchange, "You
"should have a computer, because
that's what a 19 -year-old wants."
Kucerova says she often used the _
computer to talk with her family
and friends back home.
Bob Fisher became a Lions mem-
ber just this past April, and along
with his wife Sandy Smithers, had
never heard of the exchange pro-
gram.
That is until less than a week
before the students were to arrive,
and Fisher received a call enquiring
if they would be interested in taking
in a student.
"They had booked one more stu-
dent than home," explains Fisher.
"And I got a call on the Monday
(June 26), and he arrived the Friday
(June 30)."
When it comes to the Lions Club,
both Kucerova and Stajgis say they
were surprised to learn how large of
a role the club plays in Huron
County, compared to their home
towns.
"Lions Clubs are not so much pop-
ular (back home). But here, every-
where you go there's signs and
everybody's a member," notes
Kucerova.
See EXPERIENCE, Page 9