International students atop Castle Rock in Chester. Photo Yumimphotography courtesy SSRCE

It didn’t take long for the International Students Program to recover from the pandemic.

The program was closed for the better part of two years and only reopened in February.

Coordinator for the International Students Program Carolyn Bolivar-Getson says since then, the number of international students visiting the South Shore has rebounded.

“We had to cut off our numbers this year. We’re back to full-fledged pre-COVID numbers based on the amount of home stays that we have. The home stays are what we’re looking to acquire more of, at this point in time, to grow the program,” said Bolivar-Getson. “But the students are there. The students are there, and the students are ready to come.”

Currently 122 students from countries around the world are enrolled at schools across the South Shore and Bolivar-Getson expects that number to increase to 135 or more in the fall.

Bolivar-Getson says international students are often the first introduction many local students have to a diverse culture.

“In some of these schools, it’s the only diversity that we have. When I look at these schools and how well the international students integrate into the Canadian families and into the classroom, it’s wonderful to see,” Bolivar-Getson.

Coordinators do their best to match students with families who have similar interests to ensure a positive experience for everyone.

Anyone wishing to be a host family for an international student can contact Carolyn Bolivar-Getson at cbg@ssrce.ca.

Bolivar-Getson says the experience of opening your home to an international student is often the start of a life-long relationship.

“They’re part of your family. When you become involved in the Nova Scotia International Student Program, you’re opening your heart and your home,” Bolivar-Getson. “We’re not looking for someone to rent somebody a room. We want families that want to make students part of their family, and that’s the best way to explain it.”

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

To listen to the broadcast of this story, press play below.

International students atop Castle Rock in Chester. Photo Yumimphotography courtesy SSRCE

As Nova Scotia reopens its borders, staff at the South Shore Regional Centre for Education are looking for families to open their homes to international students.

The program was effectively shut down during COVID and only reopened in February.

Director for the International Student Program at SSRCE Steven McGill is impressed with how quickly the program has rebounded.

“Prior to the pandemic, we usually, for our South Shore, would get between 40 to 60 students arrive in February for second semester. Currently we have 49 students with us. So, it’s almost back to pre-COVID numbers.”

When the provincial government made the decision not to allow international students into public schools in August 2020 some recruiters said Nova Scotia’s reputation would be hurt.

McGill says despite enrolment in the program being comparable to pre-pandemic years he will be reaching out to reconnect with those recruitment agencies.

“I would imagine that some agents and some agencies have gone elsewhere but if they have, then there are other agencies and agents that are definitely willing to send students our way. But obviously, there’s some trust that we have to gain back and some rebuilding of relationships that we have to do moving forward.”

McGill says the program typically welcomes 100 to 125 students each September and sees no reason why they shouldn’t expect to meet that target this year.

He says there’s no shortage of students from around the world who want to come to study in Nova Scotia.

“We would love to have even more host families. It’s not a matter of not having students wanting to come to the program, come to Nova Scotia. It’s the matter of being able to find the host families to have them and of course, having the schools to have the numbers as well, to be able to welcome international students in their classrooms.”

McGill says host families are needed in North Queens and the Forest Heights areas as those schools currently have space but no host families.

He says it’s not just students who benefit from the experience of living with families in Nova Scotia.

“We’ve got host families that now have, they call them their grandchildren or great-grandchildren even, because of the relationships that they formed. Many families have either gone to visit their past international students and vice-versa, international students have now graduated and have their own jobs and have come to visit so, definitely keeping in touch. It can be a life-changing experience for everyone involved for sure.”

McGill says some host families sign on for a short term to see if the program works for them before deciding to accept a student into their home for a full year.

He says families will be supported by a team of homestay coordinators who will help families and students settle in and get the most out of the experience.

Information on how to become a host family to an international student is available on the SSRCE website.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

To listen to the broadcast of this story, press play below.