“This experience was just incredible. My host family were really nice and did everything to make me feel at home. They come from the Philippines and at the beginning of my stay I was with a Japanese student so there was some very interesting multiculturalism. I learned a lot about different cultures, traditions and mindsets as well as, their cooking styles.

The school had organised two Induction days which allowed me to easily acclimatise to Australian school life and to meet all the other international students. Throughout my stay all the school team worked hard so everything went well including several excursions (zoo, Flinders University, Orienteering and bush camping). We did a subject called Australian Studies, which was just for the international students to learn about Australian culture, history and geography.

Thanks to school, I met awesome people, created good friendships and together we hung out very often, visited the local areas, went swimming in the ocean (that was very cold as it was winter), did some shopping and went to the coffee shops a lot!

I would love to stay more but I will never forget this experience!”

Maylis from Paris (France)

Hi… I am Clement. That is me in the navy jacket on the left of the group. I have curly hair because I am from France and also Guadeloupe, which is an island group in the southern Caribbean Sea. In this photo we were camping for a few nights as part of my Recreational Studies subject. We went with other International students to Deep Creek and we camped in tents, cooked our own food and saw waterfalls, the beach and kangaroos came into our campsite! I was comfortable with the kangaroos because we had already played with them and watched their behaviour on another excursion.

My flight to Australia was really long so I slept a lot. My host mother met me and was very nice and friendly. I shared my house with Simon who is from Bavaria (Germany) and we ate a lot of good food. School started a few days later so my host mother showed me the Mall, the beach and we played tennis. I borrowed my uniform but longer staying students like Simon, bought theirs from the Devon Uniform shop.

Our induction at school lasted for two days so we were prepared to use our Chromebooks, follow the timetable, know the plan of the campus and how to ask for help. My favourite subject was Psychology because in France we can not do a subject that is very specific like this one.

I would love to come back to Australia and the school.

Clem from Bordeaux (France)

Leaving for Australia was the most exciting and nervous day in my entire life because it was my first time travelling overseas and it was to a new country. After a long trip I met my host father in Adelaide and he was really nice and kind. 

I came to Adelaide with other Japanese students on a scholarship so we had introductory English classes at Adelaide University. My first week of school included two days of induction where I got my Chromebook, timetable and uniform. Ms Belinda was so kind and supportive. We have since been on excursions to see Australian animals, nature, country towns, Parliament House, city and a rural school. 

I also participated in the tree climb activities in the parkland area of the city with my new International friends. We completed some tree-top activities, and I got stuck on the rope which was really embarrassing. Also I was really scared to try this activity, but my friends were really brave and so I followed them. We had a remarkably good time.

I often went to the beach because a trip to the beach is one of the favourite activities that Australians do after school and work. I went with my friend and host mother. When I go with my host mother, we walk a long way along the beach. I really like it, especially going to the Glenelg beach as it has stunning sunsets. I would really love to come back to Australia to visit and possibly live. 

Honoka from Tokyo (Japan)