Lucas Christ-Rowling is positively pumped about the opportunity to immerse himself in Colombian culture for the next 11 months. The Metchosin resident will soon head to Cali, the countryB次元官网网址檚 second-largest city, about eight hours from Bogota.

The trip is part of a Rotary International Youth Exchange B次元官网网址� in conjunction with the Sidney By The Sea Rotary B次元官网网址� which arranges for students to spend a year in a foreign country while facilitating the same experience for students from other countries to come to Canada.

Christ-Rowling, 17, got interested in the program through his mother, who spent a year in Denmark as part of a Rotary International Youth Exchange when she was in high school in Ontario.

B次元官网网址淪he really encouraged me to try it and said it was a really rewarding experience,B次元官网网址� he said. His mother, a former Rotarian, hopes there will be a similar program available for youth on the West Shore soon.

Christ-Rowling, part of the first class to graduate from Royal Bay secondary in June, will be returning to high school in Cali.

B次元官网网址業 want to accelerate learning Spanish,B次元官网网址� he explained. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 also really looking forward to learning about the culture and history of Colombia.B次元官网网址�

Christ-Rowling feels fortunate that the family he will stay with lives across the street from the school heB次元官网网址檒l attend. That should expedite the learning curve, because he wonB次元官网网址檛 have to waste time commuting, he explained.

While he plays drums, guitar and piano, Christ-Rowling has never learned to dance, so he is looking forward to that challenge as well. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the salsa capital of the world,B次元官网网址� he said.

Another aspect of the trip that intrigues him is the opportunity to play soccer. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 very excited about playing in a country where they are so passionate about the sport,B次元官网网址� he said with noticeable enthusiasm. B次元官网网址淭he passion and energy is there every day for soccer and IB次元官网网址檓 really looking forward to experiencing that.B次元官网网址�

Christ-Rowling will also be making presentations to different youth groups and organizations about what life is like in Canada.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 also open to volunteering opportunities that arise,B次元官网网址� he added.

Although he admitted being a little nervous about learning a new language and adapting to a different lifestyle and culture, Christ-Rowling said heB次元官网网址檚 fortunate that there is a well-organized support network in place.

B次元官网网址淟iving with a second family there will also give me a more personal connection to the country,B次元官网网址� he noted.

Once his time in Colombia is complete, Christ-Rowling is leaning towards studying political science and humanities.

B次元官网网址淕aining a global perspective and understanding will help with that,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏eing bilingual will help open doors to many education and career opportunities.B次元官网网址�

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com