It's been a month now that exchange student Victor Pinto-Matias has been in Portage la Prairie from Natal, Brazil. Matias explains there are a few distinct difference between our region and his home, but one stands out particularly.

"Mostly the weather. I can see a big difference in that. There's two or three things that are different like, the way the people care about the community. Here in Portage there is this group feeling that everyone is connected. Everyone knows everyone. That is different to me. That is cool."

He says he's attending PCI right now and a landmark event in his life will be experienced here with us.

"I'm in PCI in my twelfth grade now. I'm going to graduate here. I'll be here until June. I'm living here for the winter, the graduation, Halloween, that kind of stuff."

Pinto-Matias compares schooling here with what it's like back home in Natal, Brazil.

"Almost the same that I saw in Brazil. I was studying to go to university as well. So, they approach that on kind of the same basis."