Jacqueline Huewener, 16, has been attending David Thompson Secondary in the District of Invermere for six months as part of the International Student Program.

Originally from Frankfurt, Germany, Huewener is enjoying her time in British Columbia, especially when it comes to school.

“”Here, there are four or five subjects you can choose,” said Huewener, describing the class schedule for her current semester. “In Germany, you have to take every subject. And here you always get lunch, which doesn’t always happen in Germany.”

Huewener describes her former school in Frankfurt to have days when classes begin and end at different times throughout the week, meaning that a designated lunch period does not happen every day, as a class, or a day of classes, can run to 1 p.m. without a break.

“Here, the teachers are closer to the students,” Huewener adds. “I like that. They’re less strict.”

“The winter is much longer and colder,” said Huewener of what she finds most different about Frankfurt and the Columbia Valley. “I’ve never  been outside in -20 degrees Celsius weather!”

Since coming to Canada, Huewener has been able to try curling and hockey, both of which she really enjoys.

When recalling a moment that she believes would never happen in Frankfurt, Huewener described an event that occurred in her Physical Education class.

“In P.E. class, we danced and did a waltz, then we had lunch and had a party after,” Huewener explains. “That would never happen at my German school!”

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, visit www.sd6.bc.ca/international.php