Huang came to Canada in August 2007, but spent a week in Vancouver with her aunt before flying to Toronto.

“I wasn’t nervous at all,” she said. “I was just totally excited to get out on the first day of school and have a cool Canadian life.”

Huang was born in Vienna, Austria, but grew up Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. Her parents divorced when she was young, so she and her mother moved to Taipei and live with her grandparents. Huang has family all over the world, including Australia and Canada.

Currently attending Gravenhurst High School, Huang had to adjust to the small-school atmosphere. In Taipei, she attended an all-girl boarding school and had 50 students in her class. She lived at the school from Monday to Friday and went home on weekends.

“I can make really good friends over there, and that’s the only thing I miss, except the food,” said Huang.

Since arriving in Canada, Huang has stayed with four host families.

The first was the Inniss family, who took her on an exciting trip to the United States visiting Chicago, New Hampshire and Mass­achusetts. The second was the Frankish family, with whom she spent the holidays.

“I’ve never got so much Christmas presents before,” said Huang.

Up until last week, Huang lived with the Murrays, and with them she did many fun things such as travelling to Quebec and Toronto for the first time. Currently she is staying with new host mother Johanne Hills and her family.

Overall, the highlights of this journey for Huang have been the Rotary weekends. She said she has made very close friends with the other exchange students, as they can all relate to each other with what they are going through.

“We all became just like a big family,” she said.

During her speech, Rotarians had a little chuckle when Huang explained how life in Gravenhurst is very different compared to Taipei. She had certain expectations of the typical teenage life and said she got a bit of a shock when arriving in Canada. She told how she learned that the cool Canadian life was not like in the movies with the wild parties, cheerleaders and fancy proms.

Huang also told Rotarians how the nightlife in the country is very different than in Taipei.

“In the city I go to parties with friends, shopping, hanging out at nine or 10 o’clock at night, but the street is already empty at seven o’clock in Gravenhurst.”

Huang said her peers don’t always ask her to do activities outside school and it can be hard sometimes.

“Rotarians are a really important support for me here. I treasure every time when a Rotarian offers to do something with me.”

At the end of her speech, impressed Rotarians commented on how well she speaks English.

Huang did prepare a slide show, but due to technical difficulties it was shown afterwards to anyone who wanted to stay.

Huang’s exchange will be ending soon as she leaves us this summer.

“There isn’t much time left, but I’m trying to do as much stuff as I can to treasure the last time here,” she said.

After high school Huang hopes to become a fashion or interior designer, but says her experience has caused her to rethink her plans and she may change them.