Amy Leclair left her family, friends and hometown of Weyburn on Sunday for the adventure of a lifetime.

The Comp graduate will spend one year in the South American country of Venezuela through the Rotary Exchange program.

Leclair will live with a host family in the city of Tariba, Venezuela, and will attend school in the nearby provincial capital, which has a population of around one million.

She got the idea to apply to the Weyburn Rotary Club for an exchange from her friend, Joanna Kraft, who just took a one-month trip to Belgium.

Leclair's family also recently played host to Australian exchange student Holly Beary.

Although her friends shared their experiences and gave Leclair some advice, they couldn't prepare her for the unknown adventure that lies ahead.

"I'm excited but still kind of nervous. My host parents don't speak English," said Leclair, who has taken a couple of Spanish lessons and has been practicing with the help of work books. "I guess I'm as prepared as I can get."

School isn't as big a concern - since her grades in Venezuela won't count for any academic standings, Leclair plans to take classes that interest her.

But she expects some inevitable home-sickness.

"It's going to be hard. I'll have to be away for Christmas, and that will be the hardest part of the whole trip," she said.

Leclair will live with three or possibly four host families during the duration of her stay.

Every year the Weyburn Rotary Club partially sponsors and arranges a long-term exchange that lasts from 10 to 12 months, and a short-term, three or four-week exchange in the summer.

The Rotary Club will make their next selection in October for the student who will go on an exchange in the summer of 2001.

"We're looking for students whose marks are above-average, who have a reasonable degree of maturity and common sense, and are well-suited to act as ambassadors for Weyburn and Canada," said Rotary member Dwayne Schultz.

Those interested can get an application from the Student Services office at the Weyburn Comp.