The Rotary Club of North Bay is once again taking part in the Rotary Youth Exchange.

The program sees students go to school in other countries and experience different cultures.

Hanna Puustinen is from Finland and she will be here for the next year while Kaylee Renaud is doing her exchange in Switzerland.

Hanna sees many benefits.

“I wanted to learn a new language and new culture and meet many new people. I also wanted to get out of my comfort zone,” she says.

She says there are a lot of similarities between Finland and Canada but in Finland people have to get to know you before they feel comfortable while in Canada people are comfortable right away.

Hannah is attending West Ferris Secondary School and will stay with three local families while she’s here for the next 12 months.

She starts with the Mitchell family.

Drew Mitchell says they are exposing her to local events and local places like the Powassan Fall Fair and the Calllander Bay Heritage Museum.

He says she also brought them a book on her home town as well as a book on Finnish phrases and what they mean.

“They have it in Finnish and they give you the literal translation in English and then the actual meaning in English and it’s hilarious. We’re also working with her on turns of phrasing in English and that’s interesting too,” Mitchell says.

Hannah and her host family will be going to Ottawa on the weekend.

Mitchell says they’ll be visiting the Parliament Buildings and the Finnish Embassy too.

(photo by station staff)

Filed under: Hannah Puustinen, Rotary Club of North Bay