International students learn Canadian culture at Sudbury ROCKS!!!

Hundreds of volunteers took part in the tenth annual Sudbury ROCKS!!! event on Sunday to give out water and race marshal, but some came to the diabetes fundraiser racefor an entirely different reason.

Several Chinese international students from Laurentian University volunteered at Sudbury ROCKS!!! on Sunday to learn about Canadian culture and gain valuable work experience.

"The people here are really friendly," volunteer Bob Jaihui Ma said. "[People] talk to me and say 'Have a good day, have a nice day'. Those things won't happen in my country."

Ma came to Sudbury through a partnership between his university in China and Laurentian University. He was recruited to volunteer at this year's race by former Laurentian student Hugo Chen, who now works for the university.

"He told us that this would be a good opportunity for you guys to get involved in the local community and to be familiar with the local people," said Ma.

"I [thought]'Why not?, I can have a try'. First of all, I think helping others will make me very happy then I know that as a newcomer, we need to get involved in the new community."

Chen started volunteering at Sudbury ROCKS!!! in 2009 and has been recruiting other international students help out at the race ever since.

"It's a very good opportunity for our local community to understand our international students," he said.

"Sometimes they spend most of their time in the school, maybe go to the grocery store," said Chen.

"But for most of our neighbourhood and community, they don't get the chance to meet face to face or have this opportunity to know our international students."

A huge thank you- Sudbury ROCKS!!! volunteer coordinator Sarah McIIraith

The efforts by the international student volunteers do not go unnoticed.

"It's amazing to have them come to events because they're always so excited to see things like the events that happen here and what our culture is compare to theirs," said Sudbury ROCKS!!! volunteer coordinator Sarah McIlraith. "A huge thank you to them."