As French exchange student Philippine Ravel’s adventures in Powell River come to a close, her classmate, Georgina Forshner, is about to begin her own transatlantic journey.
The Powell River student will be travelling to Brno, Czech Republic, this August to attend high school for the year. Both students participate in Rotary International Youth Exchange programs.
Before moving to Powell River, Ravel had never visited North America. Although she came from a small town in southern France with 12,000 inhabitants, Powell River is a completely different place, she said. At first, it was daunting.
“It was really scary at the beginning,” said Ravel. “When I arrived in Vancouver to take the plane to go here, it was such a small plane. I thought ‘Where am I going?’”
Through Rotary, students are well supported and part of a network of other inbound and outbound exchange students from around the world.
Ravel is part of a group in the BC region that includes eight inbound exchange students who have met up frequently for trips and conferences throughout her year in Canada. She also credits the support of her local host family for helping make the landing in a foreign country softer.
Despite these supports, Ravel said there were still obstacles in the beginning. She had studied English in school for six years, but it did not quite prepare her for full language immersion, she added.
“To be in the country, it’s so much different than studying the language,” said Ravel. “I had to ask all the time ‘Can you repeat, please? Can you speak slowly?’”
With time, she has become a fluent and confident English speaker.
“Thanks to all my family here, I now speak without thinking in French anymore,” she added. “I think in English.”
Forshner has never visited Czech Republic and does not speak the language. Her courses at the high school in Brno will be taught in Czech. Although she is preparing as best she can, language resources in Czech are not easily found, she said.
“I can’t take a class for the Czech language here in BC, so I’ve been learning from one of my grandmother’s friends,” said Forshner. “Once I get there, hopefully, I’ll learn fast.”
Reflecting on her year away, Ravel’s advice to Forshner is simple.
“Be involved; that’s the big thing,” said Ravel. “At the beginning sometimes I felt shy. I didn’t know the country, didn’t know anybody and missed my family. Just be interested in everything.”
Ravel attended grade 12 in Canada, but she will need to repeat her final year in France to graduate. However, she said she sees the year in Canada as such a positive experience that she actually gained a year.
“I don’t lose a year at all,” she said. “I learned English, I’ve met so many people and seen so many different things than in France.”
Ravel said she recommends the exchange experience to everyone.
“You make so many connections and friends,” she added.
Forshner said talking with Ravel has helped and made her more excited for the experiences that lie ahead.
“I’m looking forward to meeting all the new people and the cultural experiences,” said Forshner.
Students aged 15 to 19 are sponsored by Rotary clubs in more than 100 countries. The aim is to give youth the opportunity to become global citizens by developing leadership skills, learning a new language and culture and building friendships around the world.
