For the first time, Irene Gambacorta is really looking forward to going to school.
The 17-year-old from Italy is one of more than 60 students between the ages of 12 and 18 hosted by Shecana International Schools in Prince George.
Leaving home for an exchange was something Gambacorta has been looking forward to for the past four years. But the ongoing labour dispute between the province and public school teachers has the students cooling their heels.
"I'm afraid of the first school day, but I still want to go," said 17-year-old Finn Fanni Steri.
Steri was compelled to participate in an exchange after hearing stories from two aunts who had done so in the past. "It was hard to pick a country," she said, but she ultimately picked Canada to learn English.
In addition to improving her English, Anne-France Poullier, 18, left France for the year to have the opportunity to travel and explore new things. Though she's finished her secondary school back home in Lille, a lack of classes is making it more difficult for Poullier and the others to meet Canadian peers.
"We have each other here, but it's nice to meet some Canadians as well," said Renske Van Os, 17, from the Netherlands, who has also already graduated.
"We want to learn the culture, but how can we learn it if we don't have the local people?" Steri asked.
Shecana CEO Sheila Hoeg said the organization is trying to come up with events and activities to keep the students, who arrived in Canada in the last week of August, occupied.
Canada is one of the most expensive countries on which to go on an exchange, said 15-year-old German student Sarah Posavec.
"I came here to go to school and now I don't have school. [Sometimes] it's good to not go to school but it's only interesting the first week and after that you're just bored and you don't know what to do," Posavec said.
The local host families have been trying to keep all of their kids occupied, with shopping trips, sightseeing, movies nights and family bonding.
The students spent anywhere between 11,000 and 16,000 euros ($15,600 to $22,700) to come for the year and have to return home by the end of June before their student visas expire.
"We are worried about not finishing the school year," said Gambacorta.
Some students, like 14-year-old Solveig Dlefeld from Germany, were unaware there was a labour dispute before touching down in Canada.
"My house mom told me," she said.
Others found out shortly before they arrived.
Steri said she wasn't worried initially. "Now it's not funny anymore."
Despite the delay, the protracted wait for classes hasn't dimmed the students' impression of Canada and Prince George.
"I like that there's nature all around you," said Dlefeld, who went hunting with her host family.
"Everything is bigger," Gambacorta. "The trees, the homes, the food, the cars are taller."
