International visitors

Times Contributor   

 

Two Air Cadets that are part of the International Air Cadet Exchange Program got a taste of the western heritage when they watched the parade and chuckwagons this Strathmore Stampede long weekend.  Josephine (Jo) Fisher, 18, from the United Kingdom and Hye-Jin (Jinny) Jeong, 19, from South Korea got the chance to explore real western life while staying with a Billet family for the weekend. 

This year the International Air Cadet Exchange program had 88 cadets traveling through Alberta from north to south exploring what the province has to offer. Before coming to southern Alberta, the cadets went to several cities and towns including Edmonton, Olds, Banff and Lake Louise, to name a few. After Strathmore they will be heading to Frank Slide, Waterton and Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. 

Rob Bauhuis, the Southern Wing Director for the Air Cadet League of Alberta, says that this billeting stop is a good way for the cadets to see the real life of a person living in southern Alberta. 

“They get a taste for what a southern Alberta family does over a weekend,” says Bauhuis. 

The girls had a fabulous time at the events. 

“The events were amazing,” says Fisher, “In the UK, we have fairs, but no parades.  The chuckwagons were exciting!  There is nothing like this in Britain.”

“I really like the [Running With the] Bulls,” said Jeong.  “It is fun to watch and there is many things going on at once, too bad some people got hurt, but many didn’t and it seemed they had fun as well.”

The cadets certainly enjoyed their experience living a day in the life of a southern Albertan and were amazed to see all that this province has to offer. 

“The whole experience (was my favourite), seeing what small town life is like in Alberta.  We saw mountains, farming, cowboy and city life – all in one place,” says Fisher.

“Everywhere we travel here there is a surprise.  The mountains [Atabasca Glacier/Banff] are amazing and now we are here close to farms, very diverse,” says Jeong. 

The girls were also surprised how many people dressed in western attire. 

“(Dressing western) really gets you into the spirit of the event.  Coming from overseas we have a movie view of cowboys and western life, but this is very different and more real,” says Fisher. 

The girls, along with the other 88 cadets they are travelling with, represent many countries around the world. These countries include Austrialia, Belgium, France, Germany, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. They will soon be leaving Alberta after their whirlwind trip. 

Strathmore has an Air Cadet program where kids from the ages of 12 to 18 can participate in activities which range from marching drills to swimming or bowling. They also participate in survival camping and get the chance to fly in gliders. 

“It puts the air in Air Cadets,” says Bauhuis. 

The Air Cadet program in Strathmore meets every Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Strathmore Ag. grounds and registration will start early in September. The program is government funded and therefore it is free to join. For more information you can visit www.903aircadets.ca.