On Sunday, February 19, after a long train ride, I finally arrived at Abbotsholme, a school just outside of a small town called Uttoxeter. I was greeted by my house parent, Mrs Simpson, who showed me around the house. She introduced me to my roommates Claire, from Germany, and Millie who lives about an hour away from school. 

The past two weeks have passed by really fast. I went on the farm and helped feed the cows, pigs and sheep. I went riding and played a new sport called Netball, which is similar to basketball but you can’t dribble. I am also here during lambing season, so I saw some lambs. 

On the weekend, a lot of the locals leave, so it gives me the opportunity to get closer with people from countries all around the world, such as Germany, Japan and China. Last weekend, some of my new friends and I went to Liverpool, the town where the Beatles grew up. We had a really good time shopping and walking along the water.

This weekend I am on lambing duty, which means I need to go to the farm a few times to check on the pregnant sheep, bottle feed some of the lambs and feed the pigs and cows. There haven’t been any new lambs today, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

I am thrilled to be here, meeting so many new people from all around the world. This is an experience I will never forget and I am extremely fortunate to be on this trip. – Vanessa Ross ’19, Exchange Student at Abbotsholme School