Student Exchange Australia: Adjusting During Week One

Posted on March 14, 2013 by dlevy

A week ago I arrived in Melbourne, Australia to commence my experience as an exchange student at Ballarat Grammar School.

When I first arrived, I met with my family and travelled to my new home, 30 minutes away to a small town where they lived. They greeted me with open arms and helped me adjust to the 16 hour time difference. The family I am staying with has four girls; a nine-year-old named Alice, a twelve-year-old named Grace, a fifteen-year-old named Georgia (with whom I am staying) and a seventeen-year-old named Lucy.

The first couple of days in Australia were difficult because of the time difference, but I quickly adjusted before school started. On Monday, I went to Georgia’s school which is 1 hour away from her house. We took a bus to get there and arrived shortly to the beautiful school. I took all of Georgia’s classes the past school week and enjoyed each of them. She is a year older than me, but we are learning around the same things in math and science. I am doing some of her work but focusing on mine from home.

Every day after school we take the bus home to arrive around 4:30 pm. The past school week has been good so far and I’ve learned many new things. Although I am living around the world from my home, everything is roughly the same here. The biggest differences I have noticed are the accents/sayings, the land (very rural) and the culture. It is very refreshing to experience a new environment full of new people.

This weekend, the family I am staying with and I went to Robinvale for a water ski race. They all professionally water ski in different categories and did very well this weekend (second and third placements). We camped close to the river in tents and it was my first time camping. It was a different experience but I liked it very much. I watched Georgia ski and she was very good. We went out for dinner Sunday night and drove home today.

My first week in Australia has been very good and I am excited to continue living here for the next five weeks. –Arianna Galbraith

Final Days in Straya: The Things I Have Learned

Posted on March 14, 2013 by dlevy

Today is my second to last day in Alice Springs. I go home Friday. After six weeks here I can honestly say that this experience has changed my view on things for the better and has also opened my mind up to a different way of life.

After this morning’s farewell speech in front of the school I feel like I have brought the trip to an end and now all that is left is packing and goodbyes. I have done so much, seen so much and learned so much, all things that I will remember in Montreal. For example, I have learned that not all Australians from the outback are “bogans” and that being killed by animal life in Australia is not that common and not as I was told before coming here. I have learned to appreciate the peace and quiet of country life and I feel like once I get back to Montreal I will seek quiet more often. I have become accustomed to living in the outdoors and going back to a cold and grey Montreal will be very difficult. I have also had a taste of independence and now I crave it and will want more of it as time goes by. I have seen that I am capable of living without the constant support form my parents and that I can be very mature. I have grown as a person and made friends I will remember forever. I will miss my host family and their care but now I look forward to arriving back to my “normal” world and seeing my friends, family and just plain old Montreal in general. I will remember the Outback forever and I look forward to my next life adventure. –Justin Binstock ’15

Machu Picchu: Mind Over Matter

Posted on March 13, 2013 by dlevy

During the past four days, we’ve experienced an unforgettable journey: hiking the Laris trail while on our way to Machu Picchu, one of the worlds seven wonders. Although I was faced with certain challenges due to the change of environment, the spectacular views made it completely worth the effort. The first day was the toughest by far as we reached an altitude of 4450 meters. The trail was extremely steep and the lack of oxygen made it difficult to the reach the top. Not only was the hike physically challenging, it also tested my mental strength. Having a positive mindset helped me push through obstacles that I faced. As I reached the summit, I was overwhelmed by my accomplishment. The view was breathtaking and it brought tears to my eyes (the fact that I survived made me pretty emotional). Not only was the the trek unbelievable, but we had an amazing crew by our side. By the time we arrived at our campsite at the end of each day, our tents had already been set up and the mules had brought our bags down. The exhaustion was definitely hard to cope with, but the nights at the campsite were very relaxing. It was incredible to learn how they are able to cook our food without the luxurious tools that we have at our disposal. Even though the days were long and tiring, I have no regrets and look back on this experience with fondness. –Samantha Adessky ’13

Duke of Ed Gold Trip Peru 2013: LCC Pride in Service

Posted on March 6, 2013 by dlevy

Reflecting on our experiences in Las Palmas, we are proud of the improvements. Even though there is still much more progress to be made, we have no doubt that their living conditions will continue to improve. While it is extremely upsetting to witness their lack of proper housing, food and other materials we are fortunate enough to have, the kindness and compassion the community has shown us has left us with fond memories.

Though the citizens of Las Palmas benefited from our efforts, we believe that they have impacted us to a much greater extent by demonstrating important, yet too often forgotten values in our society like teamwork, kindness and compassion. Even without commodities that we value, they have found happiness in their lives, and have reminded us how to do so in our own.

Although this was our final year of service with them, we hope that the micro-loan project will allow us to maintain contact with Las Palmas and continue to show our support. – Sarah Salzman ’13 and Kelsey Wiseman ’13

South Africa Exchange: Perfect Finale to a Perfect Trip!

Posted on March 5, 2013 by admin

We wake up at the crack of dawn. Today, we are going to Kruger National Park, one of the world’s largest parks. I am excited beyond belief. I am going on a real African Safari. I can cross one thing off my bucket list because yes, at 14, I have a bucket list!

Leaving so early in the morning already feels like an adventure. The Park is just far away from Johannesburg to remind us that this is an expedition, but not so far that the drive becomes unbearably tedious. The Park is huge, and in four days (four days!) we will only cover perhaps 1/8^th of it. The names of the different gates sound so exotic. Pretoriuskop Numbi Gate, Orpen, Phalaborwa, Shingwedzi. I have been warned that we might not see the big five, lion, buffalo, leopard, elephant and rhinoceros. Hannelie and Dirk have been here countless of times, and there are bird species and animals that they have never yet spotted. I am happy just to be driving on this road; so similar to those I’ve seen in movies that I have to pinch myself.

To our delighted surprise, we see all five (though of course not all at once). We see the very elusive leopard, so good at hiding that it takes us several minutes to spot him. He crosses, right before our car, right before our eyes, and I try to snap pictures, knowing full well that there is no way I can capture the beauty of the leopard, and more importantly, our feelings of awe and gratitude. There is no way I can capture with my small camera, or with my oh so inadequate words, the wonder of being here in Africa, with the sun beating on my head, and the thrill of adventure squeezing my insides. We see wild dogs, very much an endangered species. Elephants pass before us- twice- with their very cute babies in two, and we are so close that we have to retreat 600 meters to let them pass. We see five different types of eagles, at least 27 rhinoceros. I scribble madly in my Kruger National Park booklet, trying to mark all the animals sighted, but I’m sure I miss a few. Hannelie keeps saying that seeing so many animals is unusual, and I’d love to think that this is somewhat due to my presence here.

I privately think that this is South Africa’s way of putting on a grand show, just to make me regret, a little more than I do already, my very imminent departure! Dirk knows so much about animals, and being with him is like being with the greatest of guides. He is funny too. This safari is the perfect finale to a perfect trip. In two days, I’ll be home. Sort of. Parts of me, I think, will stay right here, in Africa. – David Elbaz ’15