Brazilian students invade Carberry

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This article was published 26/01/2017 (3426 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CARBERRY — Only a select few flying to a tropical paradise could imagine longing for the frigidness of a Manitoba winter.

But there are actually six of these cold enthusiasts in the hallways of Carberry Collegiate. They are native Brazilians about to fly home at January’s end, after five months as students in Carberry. They say there’s plenty to miss about their adopted home — yes, even the cold.

“I think I’ll miss almost everything,” said Thyago Gomes, who relayed that he’d crave the chill, too, before reining back on his admission. “Not this cold like -40 C,” he said, drawing laughs from his Brazilian classmates, “but around -10 C, that’s really good.”

Although it’s not clear how frosty a temperature the Brazilians, all in Grade 11, would happily tolerate, there is no debate they will pine for snow in their warmer climate.

“The first time it was snowing, I took off my coat and ran outside,” Gomes said.

“I did the same, I was rolling in the snow,” added Rodrigo Menezes.

Since 2008, five Westman school divisions — Beautiful Plains, Fort La Bosse, Turtle Mountain, Southwest Horizon and Rolling River — have collaborated to offer international students space in their classrooms, and host families have extended a seat at their dinner table.

Ian Scott, the director of international education for Study Manitoba School Divisions, said their schools have hosted 500 students from various countries since the organization’s inception.

Approximately 100 students are expected to take part in the 2016-17 school year, split among 18 schools.

Half of this year’s students hail from Brazil. Some kids are from wealthier families who can afford the expense, while others, like the six in Carberry, are fully funded by the Brazilian government — providing an opportunity for international exploration they otherwise would not have enjoyed.

“The important thing is access and support of kids, providing an environment that’s safe, affordable and a place of opportunity for kids to learn, to grow — and that includes our own,” Scott explained. “We do this in Manitoba because it’s good for our kids.”

Carberry Collegiate principal Bruce McCallum agrees.

He figured the six Brazilians, fluent in Portuguese, might be too shy to mingle with their fellow classmates upon arriving last September. McCallum said it took time, but they’ve made inroads.

» See ‘They’ve really’ —Page 4

“They’ve really integrated themselves and I think it’s worked out really well,” he said. “They’ve made the initiative and taken the steps in getting involved in the community, getting involved in the school and learning the English language.”

The Brazilians say there was hesitation at first, but they appreciate the friendships they’ve cultivated with other classmates.

At first, conversing in English was a major challenge, Gomes admits.

“They would ask, ‘How are you?’ Gomes said. “Yes,” he’d answer each time.

Both Gomes and Layssa Santos are on music scholarships. Once a week, they visit Brandon University with other musically-inclined students to take lessons. Gomes strums the guitar and Santos has the pipes.

Santos is well on her way to becoming a honourary Canadian, if she isn’t already. She can belt out the anthem, singing O Canada before a high school hockey game, and raves about greasy dishes of fries.

“When I tasted it the first time, oh my God,” she marvels about poutine. “It’s the best food ever.”

Carberry has welcomed dozens of international students over the years because families stepped up to host.

Danette Lockhart and her family have taken in Santos. The 16-year-old has become a role model to Lockhart’s 12-year-old daughter Mallory.

“My personal favourite part is when the snow first flies,” she said of what she enjoys about housing international students. “And they bring this really positive presence into your home.”

Of the few international students she’s hosted over the years, she says each of them talked about staying in Canada.

Kaiena Malaquias, one of this year’s Brazilian students in Carberry, points out that Canadians tend to apologize.

“Everything is sorry, they’re so polite,” she said.

Winter sports like skating and particularly cross-country skiing are favourites of Carlos de Barros.

“It was something new and very fun,” he said.

Jose Silva said the day he spent cross-country skiing was some of the most fun he’s had.

He’ll long for potatoes and chicken, too, while back in Brazil.

A number of students added they’d miss the safety Canada affords and flexibility in picking classes.

Simply, relayed Santos, they will look back on their time in Carberry fondly.

“In five months we have a lot of things we’ll miss.”

» ifroese@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @ianfroese