Seventeen-year-old Rachelle Van Dame has traded the Netherlands for the foothills, spending the school year at Cochrane High through the Rotary Youth Exchange program. The international initiative, which began in the 1950s, sends thousands of students around the world each year. The Cochrane Rotary Club has participated for more than two decades, and this year welcomed Van Dame while sending local student Bella to Germany. For Van Dame, Canada was her first choice. “I wanted to experience high school here because it’s very different from back home,” she explained. “Everything is bigger, the houses, the cars, even the food. And I really like how sports are part of school here.” She’s been in Cochrane for just over a month and is already adapting to Canadian life, from multiple host families to managing her classes in English. “Sometimes it’s hard to understand big projects, but it’s getting better every day,” she said. Outside the classroom, she has a bucket list that includes skiing, trying hockey, and exploring the Rockies. “I’ve never felt minus 40 before, but I’m looking forward to the snow, not the cold,” she laughed. Van Dame admits she misses her family but keeps in touch a couple of times a week. Her father, who was also a Rotary exchange student in Vancouver, plans to visit with the family later this year. RELATED STORIES: Rocky Mountain Rotary Club closes after six years of service Cochrane High golfers shine at RVS divisional championship Through it all, she’s embracing the cultural differences and community spirit. “It’s even better than I thought it would be,” she said. “People are really nice, and I already feel at home here.” Students in the Cochrane area interested in a life-changing exchange of their own can apply online through the Cochrane Rotary Club before the October 31 deadline.