MY HIGH SCHOOL EXCHANGE WITH YOUR EDUCATION
MY HIGH SCHOOL EXCHANGE WITH YOUR EDUCATION
My exchange in Italy - Lucie , Auckland
For me the opportunity of experiencing another school , another country and another lifestyle was a once in a lifetime opportunity . I recently spent eight weeks over summer in Italy on a Your Education high school exchange .
I was living in a small town of 27,000 people called Mariano Comense . It was in the north of Italy , about an hour outside of Milan . My town was absolutely gorgeous . It was small and quiet and I lived with the most wonderful host family . My host family and I lived on the bottom floor of a 2-story house with the grandparents living upstairs . In my host family there was my host mother and father and my two host brothers who are aged 16 & 19 . It was the full Italian family !
My first day at school was nerve racking , especially because I had no previous experience of the Italian language . A new school in a new country is definitely something scary . I was lucky though because my oldest host brother went to the same school so he was there to help me through my first day . Really I had no reason to be scared as my class was so warm and friendly . The girls and boys in my class were excited to meet me and had already set up a place me for to sit with them . Hardly anyone had heard of New Zealand so I had a great time teaching them about it . My weeks at school went by way too fast and before I knew it I had to say goodbye . The bond I had made with the girls and boys in my class was just fantastic . They taught me the Italian language and I helped them with their English .
One of the best things I experienced was the Italian Christmas . It was amazing . The whole family came out to my host uncle ' s house and we had an amazing feast of meats and different types of pastas . Christmas was a big family occasion and they just made me feel so welcome . I met the extended family of aunts , uncles and cousins and every single one of them was warm and full of excitement to meet me . I honestly believe I was the luckiest girl for being put with the most warm and welcoming family . They taught me everything about Italian culture and history . Once a week my host nonna and mum would teach me how to make a typical Italian dish . It was in moments like this I felt especially welcome in the family .
I managed to fit so much into that time and made thousands of memories I will forever have . Even though I only had a short time for this experience I gained more from this than I ever thought I could . I got to visit some amazing places , eat some fantastic food and live with the most fantastic and loving people . It was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity and I have made so many lifelong friends who are forever in my heart and a brand new family who I can ’ t wait to get back and see sometime soon . I am forever thankful to Your Education for giving me this wonderful opportunity .
A Parent ' s Story
- Lee , Arrowtown
I first heard about the Your Education exchanges when my 16 year old son , asked me “ Mum – how do you feel about International School Exchanges ?” After my positive response , he informed me that he had opted to attend an information evening at his school , and had gathered information that he wanted to discuss with me .
Cameron and I then looked through all the material together and discussed at length what he felt he could achieve from such an exchange , should it be possible . I felt that the application process alone would be educational for him , regardless of whether he was successful in being selected .
We were surprised to learn that his host parents were a divorced couple ( but still very good friends who happily still share all the main family occasions ) and that Cameron would be moving , every 2 weeks , between both homes during his exchange . This didn ’ t phase him , as Cameron lost his father to a heart attack a few years back it was going to be a novelty to have a part-time Dad !
Suddenly the day had arrived for his sister and I to wave him off on his adventure , and then just wait for news . Given the ease of sending texts and messaging , Cameron found it best to send short messages quite frequently , which kept us satisfied back at home .
From home , it was nice to just send regular brief texts of encouragement back , and see the messages become more informative over time . His host family were keen to help him in any way they could .
At his new school he had some fabulous teachers , but he also had a few teachers who would have been happy if he had opted to go to the library instead of attend their classes . Their reaction motivated a typically determined Kiwi lad , who persisted in attending , to learn this new language from zero prior knowledge , to be able to actually interact , asking questions , in those classes by the end of his two-month term . Young brains have a tremendous capacity to learn and absorb . I don ’ t mind admitting that it was a major financial stretch for me to support Cameron on this exchange , but it was also one of my best decisions ever !
Cameron has returned with a maturity more advanced than the day he left . He has realised several things that motivate him even more , now that he is back at school here in New Zealand . He has a far greater appreciation for his upbringing and education in New Zealand . He has returned with a focus and determination to study harder at College , to qualify in a career that will allow him to get back out there and see a lot more of the world and to afford to be able to do it in some style . What more valuable lessons could a parent ask for from an exchange ? Now , my next mission , is to save hard to get my daughter on a similar exchange in the years to come ….
12 @ youreducation . co . nz