“ This experience has allowed me to be independent , and I hope to keep growing and have many more life-changing experiences … I ’ m so grateful for this opportunity to come to Melbourne for five weeks .” – Lucy , Grade 10 ( St Catherine ’ s School , Melbourne , Australia )
“ My Global Exchange experience was eye-opening . Greeted by the warmth of the summer humidity , I knew I was going to love it here . I ’ ve always wanted to try rowing , so I took the opportunity to do it . I joined mid-season as a learner , and the rowing community , like the St Catherine ’ s School community , embraced me right away . Doing a sport while on my exchange was a great way to fully embrace the Australian school experience .” – Rachael , Grade 10 ( St Catherine ’ s School , Melbourne , Australia )
“ The London architecture was outstanding . On the second day , we walked around Borough Market , passing the River Thames , seeing the London Eye and Big Ben . Seeing the culture , eating the food and visiting different places were my highlights . However , I won ’ t forget the experience I had at the City of London School for Girls . Everyone at the school was so welcoming , and I got to experience the different facilities they offered . I had two full sessions of boxing with a real boxing instructor . This was a first for me — I had such a fun time learning these skills !” – Alexis , Grade 9 ( City of London School for Girls , London , England )
“ During the morning of my first day at Waikato Diocesan School for Girls ( known as Dio ), they had powhiri , which is a Maori form of welcome . This made me notice how integrated the Maori culture is in their lives , as many songs are in Maori — it is even taken as a language option at school .” – Abbey , Grade 10 ( Waikato Diocesan School for Girls , Hamilton , New Zealand )
“ In Aotearoa , New Zealand , I went to Cooks Beach with my exchange sister and her family . I woke up to the melodies of birds and cicadas outside my window and ate breakfast before preparing the kayaks for a day trip . I paddled through crystalline blue waves , pausing every so often to admire the nearby cliffs covered in lush blankets of green . We watched in amazement as pied shags ( native New Zealand birds ) dove underwater right beside us to catch their lunch . We walked the shore at sunset and , there , barely 15 feet from the shore : a stingray dancing in the water .” – Reese , Grade 10 ( Waikato Diocesan School for Girls , Hamilton , New Zealand )
“ Because I started Grade 10 in September and they were just on their second week here , I got to experience the back-to-school rush again . That said , the curriculum and courses , although similar , are different than back at Crofton House . But I ’ ve been enjoying my economics class here , which I didn ’ t get the opportunity to take in Grade 10 at Crofton House , and it ’ s given me exposure to the topic . I ’ m excited to visit more beaches with my exchange family . I ’ m also going to Sydney , as St Margaret ’ s takes the exchange students there each year . I ’ ll see the Sydney Opera House , Bondi Beach and — hopefully — Hugh Jackman !” – Isabel , Grade 10 ( St Margaret ’ s Anglican Girls School , Brisbane , Australia )
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