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