Rotary Exchange Student Lucia De Vito from Italy gave a presentation at last night's School Board meeting in Portage la Prairie.

De Vito started off by explaining some of the main differences between Portage and her home of Fabriano.

"The landscape for sure, it's very very different. The school, it's very different. We're used to staying in the same school, with the same students, all the five years of high school. Here, you switch classes all the time, and it's kind of like we've always seen in the movies. So it's pretty cool."

She explains why she wanted to get involved with the exchange program.

De Vito

"There are so many reasons. I thought doing an experience like this would make me have to overcome a lot of obstacles, and I thought that this way I would have to do it just by myself. There's no one who can take my hand and do all the things in my place. Every time out of my comfort zone would make my comfort zone bigger."

Our Canadian cuisine, she didn't mind it, but the pizza just can't compare.

"(Laughing) The pizza, it's not like the one my parents make in the pizzeria. You should try it, and then you will say the same. Sorry but the food is good, but the pizza, in Italy it's very, very good!"

De Vito says she jumped at the chance to be a part of the exchange program. She adds she's never really felt homesick, and she's more nervous about leaving because she's enjoyed her time here so much.