Klara Mueller, 16, from Berlin, Germany, has been attending school at David Thompson Secondary School as part of the international student program. Mueller finds school in British Columbia “easier, but fun”, compared to her schooling in Germany.

Having come from a large city to the smaller communities in the Columbia Valley, Mueller has noticed a big change in the temperament of the locals.

“The areas are smaller, and the people are more open, it’s different,” said Mueller. “They come and speak to you, they’re very friendly.”

Mueller is also baffled that people are willing to drive “hours away” to get from place to place in the valley, whereas cities and communities in Germany are quicker to get to. Since visiting the Columbia Valley, Mueller has been busy getting the most out of the now-over snowboarding season. Mueller did not, however, have a chance to drive across the White Way on Lake Windermere when it was still frozen, nor did she even want to.

“It’s scary,” Mueller said. “Lakes freeze in Germany, but not enough to drive over like that.”

Rocky Mountain School District No. 6 offers an International Student Program that has been in operation since 1987. Since its start, the program offered in the communities of Golden, Invermere and Kimberley has hosted full-time and short-term students from throughout Europe, Latin America, Asia, the United States and Australia.

For more information about the program, visit http://www.sd6.bc.ca/international.php