The Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce is gaining an international perspective this week by welcoming a Russian business student to job shadow.

Over the course of five weeks, Irena Novichkova, 20, has been working at different businesses around the Island in hopes to gain experience on how Canadian businesses operate, and is working with the chamber for five days. SheB次元官网网址檚 sponsored by Rotary International and by Irkutsk University in Siberia.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been great having her here, weB次元官网网址檇 keep her if sheB次元官网网址檇 stay,B次元官网网址� said Corey Anderson project manager at the chamber. B次元官网网址淏eing able to collaborate has been really interesting, and we are learning a lot from one another. You can use the internet all you want but itB次元官网网址檚 not the same as talking with a person face to face.B次元官网网址�

Novichkova started at the chamber on July 24, and is working on a telecommuting project, which will hopefully allow locals to work from Sooke without having to travel to downtown Victoria.

B次元官网网址淪he has found funding sources and talked to retired CEOs. ItB次元官网网址檚 actually been a really great opportunity to connect with Irina and for her to connect with the community,B次元官网网址� said Anderson.

Anderson hopes the project will make Sooke a planned and prosperous community by helping businesses working elsewhere connect with employees in Sooke, without them having to make a long commute.

B次元官网网址淚t would be nice if the paper really helped the region, and hopefully the chamber will create this telecommuting centre here,B次元官网网址� she said.

Novichkova has also found time to enjoy what the Island has to offer by participating in Canada Day celebrations, going to her first baseball game, and exploring many of the tourist hot spots. She explained that her favourite part about Sooke is the nature, the small town feel.

B次元官网网址淚 love that you can see the stars here. Before bed I leave my blinds open and I am able to look out and see the all stars every night,B次元官网网址� said Novichkova.

She has enjoyed getting to know all the different host families sheB次元官网网址檚 been staying with, and likes trying different Canadian meals.

B次元官网网址淐anadians eat a lot of bread here,B次元官网网址� laughed Novichkova. B次元官网网址淪o many sandwiches and burgers, but itB次元官网网址檚 all good.B次元官网网址�

She explained that things are fairly similar here to where sheB次元官网网址檚 from, and that she loves spending time outdoors both here and at home.

B次元官网网址淚 like the people here, they are always very friendly,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淏ut mostly I love the nature here, and being able to see the ocean every day, itB次元官网网址檚 just beautiful.B次元官网网址�

John Topolniski, past president of the Sooke Rotary Club and host for Novichkova while sheB次元官网网址檚 in Sooke, said heB次元官网网址檚 enjoyed having her here.

Topolniski has been a host for many international groups when they come to visit Sooke. He explained that he likes getting to know them in the short time that they visit, and learning about other cultures.

B次元官网网址淧eople get these preconceived ideas about other countries because of politics, but when you actually sit down and talk with someone from another country, you realize we are all pretty much the same,B次元官网网址� said Topolniski.