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Sunrise Rotary urgently seeking host families for exchange students

One student from France arriving in Cranbrook this summer, the other, from New Zealand, arriving in the winter.

Barry Coulter

The Cranbrook Sunrise Rotary club is urgently seeking host families for two high school students, one who will be arriving in Cranbrook this summer, the other in the winter.

One student is a girl from Strassbourg in the North East of France. She will be arriving in town in August. The host family will be exposed to the French language and culture while the student becomes immersed in English.

"This is probably a great way to experience the Rotary Youth Exchange program," said Shelley Balfour, who is organizing the exchange.

Another student is coming from New Zealand, and will be arriving in January.

At present there are not enough exchange families to cover the year the students will be here.

Ideally, the students will spend a few months with three different host families — four months with each.

The students are also linked up with a councillor, who acts as a third party where they can get advice and help when needed. Host parents can also take advantage of this service if needed.

The students are expected to adapt themselves completely to the customs of the host parents and Canada, and this is made abundantly clear to them before they arrive in Canada and once they are here.

The students should have their own bedroom equipped with a desk or table to do their homework in a quiet surrounding.

There is no financial compensation at the moment, as the host parents often have their own child in another country as an exchange student. However financial assistance is possible in some cases.

Anyone who is interested, or looking for more information, contact Anne and Antoine Beurskens at beurskensaa@shaw.ca.