Miguel Falcon-Alva is hoping he doesn't get sent home from school for bad behaviour. It would be a long walk back to Mexico.

The Mexican teenager is one of five foreign exchange students attending Weyburn Comprehensive School this year. Joining Falcon-Alva are Javier Gutierrez from Mexico, Anna Heinman from Germany, Priscilla Loureiru from Brazil and French speaking Genevieve Despres from Quebec.

"Canada is cool," Falcon-Alva remarked in his strong Mexican accent. "There are not as many people here like there are in Mexico, so the service is much better here. My high school in Mexico is very different from the one here. I like it here."

High schools in Mexico, Brazil and Germany don't offer as much choice and freedom in course selection or variety. Students have few, if any, free electives to choose from and there is not much movement from one class to another. Those brave enough for a challenge and the opportunity to learn about another culture can apply to one of the many foreign exchange programs available to students around the world.

"The students who come to Canada are hoping to learn English in a big way," said Wanda Pegg from student services. "English has become the language of commerce and the language of business throughout the world. The students are using the immersion with our students as a stepping stone to get to college."

"Another big reason they come here is to see what it's like to live in a different culture"

Students who come to Weyburn are set up with host families, who let the teens stay in their home for the duration of the school year. Bob King and his family are currently hosting the Brazilian girl, Loureiru, in their home.

"This is the second time we've been a host family," King noted. "We find it very rewarding to have students from other countries stay in our home. It gives our kids a chance to get exposed to different cultures. Priscilla's been great and we'll miss her when she goes back home."

Loureiru is expecting to return home in December. Her visit here has lasted nearly a year and has enabled her with enough knowledge of the English language to hold down an articulate and cleaver conversation.

"I wish I can come back one day," she said. "My feelings are weird right now. Sometimes I get really excited to go home and at the same time I'm really sad because of the friends I've made and the new family I have. I will miss everybody."

The Rotary Club, which is currently sponsoring Lourieru's visit, is in need of another host family to provide a home for another student, who is on the way. Along with the Rotary Club, there are about five other agencies and community organizations in Canada that provide sponsorships for exchange students. There are no Weyburn Comprehensive School students participating in any of the exchange programs this year, even though the opportunity is there for one or two students to participate.