Australian Exchange

This interview has been edited for clarity

Brie: Thank you again for agreeing to do this interview with us. We’re really excited to hear about your experience in Australia. So, the first question is very basic. Tell me about your trip! Where in Australia were you? What was your school called? How long did you stay?

Killian: I went to Hail Boys School, in Western Australia, in Perth. It's the oldest all-boys school in Western Australia. I was there for two months, from the Christmas break all the way to the March break. I travelled all over Australia from down south all the way to Sydney.

Brie: Nice. What were some of your favourite areas in Australia that you visited?

Killian: I think Rottenness Island, which is kind of like an island just off the shore of Perth. That was really nice. And then Sydney was a very nice city, very different, very green, very active.

Brie: That's great to hear about. Okay, so tell me about the process of setting up the exchange. What were the requirements to do it? How were you able to sign up for it?

Killian: Yeah. I think Dr. Crowe-Morey sends out an email about this time every year asking students who are interested in exchange. I think I was the only person who went on exchange this year. You apply, and then you have a meeting with her, and then all of your teachers are contacted, and they ask about you, and see if you'd be suitable for the exchange. You then get in contact with the person you're going to stay with in the place you're going. From there, you figure out if you want to stay at their boarding house or with their family and all of those details.

Brie: Nice. And did you stay at a boarding house or with a family?

Killian: I stayed with the family.

Brie: What do you think was the biggest cultural shock or cultural difference that you experienced in Australia? So maybe something that was completely out of the blue for you, but what's normal to a lot of people living in Australia?

Killian: It was pretty similar to here, but something I noticed is that there are a lot more morning people; they get up at like six o'clock and then everyone's in bed by nine, which is a big difference. That was kind of nice because you just naturally wake up early, except you're always tired earlier in the night. I kind of like being up early and being active early in the morning.

Brie: Do you plan on bringing those habits to your life here?

Killian: I tried to, but I just couldn't do it.

Brie: Yeah, that's fair. Okay, so what was your favourite memory of the exchange? Maybe some people that you met?

Killian: I think it was definitely meeting new friends from all over the world because there were lots of very nice boys there. There are lots of people that I'll keep in contact with and be friends with for life. It was just fun experiencing a new culture, not having much stress from school. And then meeting these awesome people, which I found very interesting.

Brie: So why would you recommend that other Ridley students participate in a global change program?

Killian: I think it's very good for people who are looking to study abroad. Maybe getting a taste of life somewhere else and just going out of your comfort zone, being brave and taking that step, and doing something you've never done before.

Thank you to Killian for his willingness to talk to us about his experience during his exchange this year! If you are interested in going on an exchange, reach out to Ms. Crowe Morey.