Squamish's relationship with rest of the world is growing with the departure of local youth Gareth Davies and the arrival of Konstantin Korytko of Russia.
Davies, 18, left for Venezuela this week on a Rotary Youth Exchange and Konstantin, who prefers to be called Kostia, just turned 17.
This exchange comes on the heels of the departure of Canada World Youth participants now in Uruguay after spending the summer doing volunteer work in Squamish.
While Davies is in Venezuela he will live for one year in San Cristobal in the south Andes region and attend high school at Colegio Pio XII.
Before departing he said he hopes to get a second language out of his stay in South America. He got a jump on Spanish by taking a class at Howe Sound Secondary School (HSSS).
He learned about the opportunity through a school announcement.
"It is going to be a great experience, obviously, and I'm going to meet lots of people," said the local ambassador and Howe Sound Secondary graduate before he left last week.
He went to Venezuela with a collection of pins to give to his new friends.
To prepare for the trip, Davies said he met with a broad range of people, including Squamish Nation elders.
When Davies gets back he will present a summary of his trip to Rotary members.
While Davies is staying with Rotarians south of the equator, Kostia will be studying at HSSS.
Rotarian Liz Scott said he speaks English but he is taking English as a second language classes while he is here. Kostia arrived Sept. 14, a little behind schedule due to difficulties getting the appropriate travel visa. He was originally scheduled to arrive earlier this summer from his home in the Sakhalin region north of Japan.
"This is the first time in several years we have had a male participant in the program," said Scott.
While the Russian student is in B.C. he will attend Rotary meetings in Squamish and a number of planned meetings of international exchange students staying in towns across southern B.C.
Scott said Kostia likes to windsurf and ski.
"The theory behind the Rotary Exchange program is giving these kids different home stays so that they can experience different family cultures within the general culture," said Scott.
jfrench@squamishchief.com
