By Sheila Phibbs
The Haldimand Press
CALEDONIA—In November of 2020, McKinnon Park Secondary School (MPSS) welcomed a new international student to the Grade 11 class – Sarantuul Baasanjamts, known to his teachers and classmates as James.
James is from Mongolia and has been in Canada for almost three years. His reason for coming was to help his family. He explains, “I wanted opportunities and, as sad as it is to say, Mongolia did not offer many. So, me and mom both decided to come to Canada to study and get a better education.”
The 16 year old is currently in classes for introduction to psychology/anthropology/sociology, American history, chemistry, English, biology, and math. Comparing Canadian high school to what he experienced at home in Mongolia is difficult, as he says most Mongolian teachers have a different view of teaching than those in Canada. He adds, “I can say that I have had a more enjoyable time studying in Canada than I have in Mongolia.”
James also appreciates the change brought by living in Haldimand as he has lived in a city for much of his life: “The change of scenery and the friendly neighbourhood have made my time here in Haldimand very enjoyable.”
Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, he has not had many opportunities to get to know his classmates outside of school. He explains, “Since the lockdown started I have been cautious to interact with people, so I haven’t seen most of my friends in real life for about a year. We have been staying in touch online.”
Like many of his peers, when he isn’t busy with schoolwork, James enjoys playing games, reading, and watching Netflix or YouTube.
As James looks to the future, seeking a higher level of education remains his main focus.
Finishing secondary school at MPSS is the next step in his pursuit of that goal. He says, “Even though I haven’t spent that much time at MPSS, the time that I have spent has been wonderful. The faculty members have been very friendly and helpful. Needless to say I’m looking forward to studying here in the future.”
