I stepped into the Zurich airport in a daze. I had just gotten off a ten-hour flight, and I had to find my way out of the airport and find the person who would take me to my new school, Schule Schloss Salem, located in Salem, Germany. I had already heard a lot about Salem. It’s the first Round Square school, and Athenian’s founder went there, but I was still stepping into an unknown land. And I barely knew German. 

The first thing I learned about Salem was that there are a lot of stairs. The school is in an old castle (the German translation of the school’s name is literally Salem Castle School) and church (or Kloster), so I had to walk up 5 flights of stairs to get to my wing. This was not so fun with my luggage. Luckily, I asked some really nice people to help me find my wing, and they ended up helping me with my luggage. 

I got to my wing, knocked on the door, and was met by my wing helper, a student who helps the wing mentor keep things running smoothly, coincidentally named Hannah. (It’s a pretty common German name). She taught me all about my wing. If you’ve been in the dorms at Athenian, you’ll be pretty shocked seeing the wings at Salem because they are huge. Since almost all the students here live on campus, there are more amenities. There is a whole kitchen with tables and chairs to eat at, and a living room. Every person has three roommates, so the rooms are also very big. There is a bathroom with a few stalls, and a room with the washing machine and about ten showers. 

Since the wing is so big, there are weekly duties to do. Every week, a room has to do a duty, such as cleaning the kitchen or taking out the trash. If you don’t know what your duties are, the wing mentor will put a little placard outside your room. It’s in German, so if you don’t understand, you can ask someone to translate for you. If you want to figure out what it’s saying on your own, the word dienst means duty, so that will always be the last part of the placard. If it says kien dienst, it means you have no duty. If it says something else, you have some sort of duty, and either the mentor or the helper will tell you how to do your wing duty. 

After I settled down and unpacked, a group of girls invited me to their room so we could hang out, and I made really good friends with them. After talking, I went to bed. A big difference between Salem and Athenian is your phone time. On school nights, your phone is taken at 9:15 AM and given back when classes end. Which is either 2:30 pm , 4 pm, or 11:30 am on Saturdays. (Yep, students have two classes on Saturdays.) 

At Salem, you can tell the time through bells. The bells of the kloster or church go off hourly. Student representatives ring bells to get attention at assemblies, and there is a little bell in the wing for helpers or mentors to get the whole wing’s attention. The first time I experienced a bell was for the morning run. The morning run is a short little run at 6:45. So the wing mentor rang the bell, and we headed down five flights of stairs to do a short run outside. 

After the run, you start getting ready for the school day. I started by getting my computer from the cabinet where they keep the electronics, because you get electronics that you need for school. Then I showered and got ready. You have to be at breakfast by 7:45, so make sure you keep track of time. 

After my first breakfast at Salem, they took the other exchange students and me aside. First, they have you sign up for an afternoon service group, such as Red Cross, Round Square of Fire-Brigade. You can check on the school websites for all of the options. You also sign up for an afternoon activity like Photo, Painting, Choir or Band. A few of them, like Sailing and Horseback riding, you can only sign up for if you speak German. Then you choose a sport. I chose badminton, but there’s dance, general activity, etc. Then, the exchanges got taken around to get some uniform clothes and our school iPad. On your iPad, you can find your schedule on Untis and messages from teachers on Microsoft Teams. Then I headed to my first class. The classes at Salem are ninety minutes long with no break, so they can feel really long. Luckily, there’s a thirty-minute break between classes. During the first thirty-minute break, we have something called ‘Second Breakfast’, where you can go back to the dining hall if you are still hungry. 

At 1:30, after your third class, there is lunch. You have to be there by 1:45. Lunch can be pretty jarring because there are a lot of little rules. The first rule is that you can’t sit down until the school speakers ring the bell and say so, which is at 1:45. If you get there early, you have to stand behind your chair. At all meals, there is assigned seating by wings, so make sure you’re at the correct table. After you sit down, one person from the table will get the lunch from the lunch ladies and bring it around, and you can start eating. Now, something that’s really weird is the period of silence. Around 5 minutes into lunch, a dong will go off, and everyone has to go silent for a couple of minutes. Then when the dong rings again, you can talk. After everyone has eaten, each table cleans up. We put uneaten food and napkins in a silver bowl, we stack up the plates and glasses, and put all the silverware in another bowl, and everyone at the table brings one of those things to the lunch ladies. We also wipe down the tables if there is a mess. Then we get dessert. There’s a little tradition to put your finger on your nose, and the last person without their finger has to take the dessert to the lunch ladies. After that, you either have another class or you are done for the day. If you have afternoon activities, you go to those, and if you don’t, you have some free time. 

The most popular thing to do after school is to go to the grocery store. The two in the town of Salem are called Netto and Edeka. It takes 15 minutes to walk to Netto and walking to Edeka takes about 30 minutes. You can also bike if someone lets you borrow their bike. So you can buy a bunch of yummy snacks! On campus, there’s also something called Torkel, which is a cute little room in the castle where, starting at 3:30, you can get cakes, coffee, and hot chocolate, which is really relaxing when it rains or snows. If you go off campus, make sure you sign out. You can do this on a sheet of paper at the front of the wing. If you don’t know where it is, you can always ask. You also need to make sure you are back before 5:30, because from 5:30 to 6:30 there’s silent study time. Then from 6:30-9:15, there is another free period where you either have an activity or free time. You can go shopping during this time or go to dinner. 

Dinner is a bit different from the other meals, but it still has its own unique rules. You don’t need to wear a uniform, but your outfit needs to cover your shoulders and stomach, and you need to wear jeans. No sweats or hoodies. You can sit at any table you want, and you can bring your phone with you as long as you don’t use it. Then we go to bed, and the day repeats.

 As I’m writing this, I have about a week and a half left here at Salem, and I’m reflecting back on all of my experiences. I think some of my best days happened when I was spending time with new friends, such as when my friends and I went to Schlossee, a lake by my school, on May Day, since we had the day off. We all made a snack and had a picnic of all our food, and we hung out, swam, and played games by the lake. I’ve also really enjoyed going to Edeka or Netto with friends. 

Being an exchange student means you also have opportunities to explore Germany and Europe at large, so any day I went off campus to go to Konstanz or Zurich was always super cool. Like anyone on exchange, I totally struggled with homesickness and feeling out of place. However, unlike how most people feel homesick their first couple of days on exchange, the last week or so was when I was feeling the most homesick and out of place. I think it was because, as the weeks went on, I knew more and more what to expect and began to miss California and a place where it felt like there was always something to do. 

If you go to Salem or Germany as a whole, there are a few differences that you should know about. In Germany, there’s less emphasis on small talk and more on genuine connection. Small talk can sometimes come across as a bit disingenuous. But a big misconception I see is that people think Germans as a whole are mean. I’ve had small encounters with a few people in Netto, Edeka, or the town of Salem as a whole. People are always willing to help you with anything you may need. Additionally, since the drinking age in Germany is 16, you may be more exposed to drinking and smoking than at Athenian, but it’s not a problem at Salem, since if students drink, they get punished and there are breathalyzer tests often. 

I do not regret going on an exchange at all, and I think everyone should go. It’s a way to interact with people you normally wouldn’t, and you learn so much about yourself. At Salem, there are a lot of times allotted for silence, and being at Salem, I learned how much I valued silence. In California specifically, everything is fairly loud, and there’s always a lot going on, so it was a change being in the silent countryside because the silence helped me notice the little things. I was able to take in the world around me and appreciate it so much more. 

If you are going on an exchange, say hi to as many people as possible and fully appreciate where you are. Finally, I’ll teach you the most important German sentence, and that’s what you say when you go out to Edeka or Netto. Start with Halo, the cashier will scan your stuff, give you your total and when you are leaving, you should say Tschüss, Danke! If you can say that and you have fun at Salem, you’ll be good to go.

I have been at Colegio Los Nogales in Bogotá Colombia for a little over three weeks. I cannot believe I am halfway through my exchange. It’s been going by so fast! 

Despite living outside of the city I still feel as if I’m living the city life here, as I have been going to the malls and exploring different places and restaurants to see in Bogotá. My first weekend here I visited the flea market in Usaquen, a small part of the city. It was very interesting to walk around the market and see what everyone was selling, such as handmade jewelry and woven bags. After walking around we got lunch at a Colombian restaurant and watched a football match. During a three-day weekend I went with my host, her cousin, and her uncle to hike Monserrate. We took the Trans Milenio there, which is like BART but it is a bus and it doesn’t go underground. The hike has 500 stairs, which was a difficult hike. Seeing the city from the top and walking around the cathedral at the top made it worth it, even though it was raining quite a bit.

The students at Colegio los Nogales have been so nice and welcoming towards me during my exchange. I have not felt any trouble fitting in with my host’s friends or family and they have been so accommodating to me. The language barrier has been a little difficult, because my host parents don’t speak much English, but I have really grown to understand Spanish, even if I haven’t been able to speak as well as I wish I could.

Overall Colombia is great. I have learned a lot and met people that I hope I can keep in touch with for the rest of my life, along with making great memories. I would recommend to all tenth graders who would like to go on exchange to look into coming to Colombia because it is a beautiful country, and the food is definitely worth coming for, especially arepas.

My name is Andrew Rogers. I have been having the most wonderful time here at Scotch Oakburn College for the past two–and-a-half weeks. From the beginning of stepping into Scotch Oakburn, I have been welcomed by many people, including the wonderful Corrigans, my host family. Throughout these weeks, I have had the opportunities to partake in multiple classes, such as Flamin Grill (cooking class), laser printer maker, sports science and other subjects such as English and maths. It is definitely different from the academics at Athenian, however, I have found it extremely interesting and exciting. 

Regarding the students, they have all been interested to learn about the differences between our schools, homes, and countries as a whole. Everyone here has been friendly and curious, and we’ve had many good conversations comparing life in Tasmania to life in California. It’s also been great to step outside my normal routine and get a sense of how another school works. For example, Scotch students wear a nice uniform, with blazers, ties, and knee high socks.

I would absolutely recommend going on exchange to future 10th graders. It’s a unique chance to grow, gain perspective, and develop new friendships. You learn so much, not just in school. You learn about other cultures and communities, but also about yourself. I have grown as a person throughout my time in Tasmania and now have an improved perspective around multiple ideas, such as how the world views America. 

If you get the chance, take it. Push your comfort zone and you won’t regret it.

Over the summer of 2024, I went on exchange to Linden Hall School in Fukuoka, Japan. It was an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience. I feel so fortunate to have met many amazing people, explored the region, and practiced my Japanese language skills!

I arrived in Japan early on a sunny Saturday morning. I was picked up by my host mom and my exchange partner Sona who took me to the school dorms to settle in. There were six other exchange students from Australia at the school for part of the time that I was there. They were able to introduce me to the school and show me around the town that I would be living in for the next seven weeks. Chikushino is a smaller town, 15 minutes by local train outside of Fukuoka, a big port city on the island of Kyushu in the south of Japan. My school was part of a big university so there were lots of college students walking around. As we were foreign-looking, many of the college students loved speaking in English to us and it was fun speaking with them.

Linden Hall is a pretty small school. It has one central building that extends up six floors, which made the daily commute a bit of a leg workout. Despite its small size, the students there are super lively and they were very welcoming towards me. There is definitely a reputation around Japanese high schoolers being quite shy and more reserved, which can be true. Early on, I learned the importance of putting myself out there and being a lot more extroverted. I think that one of the really important things that will make your exchange so much more fulfilling is being willing to be a more extroverted version of yourself! If you struggle to make friends at first, just go up to people and start a conversation, even if it seems scary. Looking back on your exchange, you won’t regret talking to a ton of different people, but you might regret it if you don’t end up talking to anyone.

Additionally, approaching people was challenging for me in the beginning because of the language barrier. Although I had been learning Japanese for more than two years and was conversationally fluent, I was not entirely ready for how little I would understand in conversations with my host mom, grandparents, and others. My host mom knew a little bit of English but we mostly spoke in Japanese and my host grandparents only knew Japanese. They were the sweetest people ever and so patient as I continuously messed up while trying to speak to them in Japanese. In school, I had multiple advanced Japanese classes every day with a few international students. Being in an environment every day where everyone was speaking the language definitely improved my Japanese skills. By the end of my exchange, I felt pretty confident as I talked to grocery store clerks, people on the train, and college students.

My first day of school was kinda nerve-wracking. I had spent my first two days in Japan getting over my jet lag, meeting my exchange partner’s family, and going to a super fun baseball game for the local Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. I gave a short speech (in English luckily) in front of the entire school and got absolutely questioned for saying “soccer” instead of “football” (American English hatred) before they gave me my school uniform. Wearing a uniform to school every day was definitely a new experience for me, but I appreciated not having to pick out outfits in the mornings. We also had different P.E. uniforms, and there were several other dress code regulations that students were supposed to adhere to, such as restrictions on jewelry. Luckily the school didn’t care too much if the exchange students weren’t exactly meeting those rules, so I got to keep my earrings in! I had a bit of a weird schedule for a while but I went to a lot of my exchange partner Sona’s classes like Biology, English, Chemistry, World History, Home Economics, and more. At the dorms, we also had scheduled study time and time in the onsen (Japanese hot springs).

Although I spent a lot of time with my exchange partner and her friends, I was also able to get really close with some of the Australian exchange girls and with the other kids in our dorm. We still keep in touch. After school every day, we loved going to convenience stores like 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and the big mall Aeon to try out various unique Japanese foods and snacks. We were also occasionally able to go by train to the main part of downtown Fukuoka and we had a lot of fun exploring places there. Many weeks into my exchange, I was really missing Mexican food, so my friend Emi and I bought ingredients and made a somewhat sad attempt at tacos in the dorm kitchen. We had to quickly devour our tacos and run to study time in the other dorm, but it remains a really fun memory.

One thing that I was worried about going on exchange was the food. As a vegetarian, I’ve had experiences traveling in foreign countries where it was very difficult to find options that I could eat. Luckily, not only was the school able to provide daily vegetarian options for me, but my host family was also very accepting and willing to go out of their way to find good alternatives for me.

My host mom Naoko and host grandparents were amazing and extremely welcoming to me. They brought me to the best restaurants, took me on super fun weekend adventures, and took really good care of me while I stayed at their home. Some of the highlights of our adventures include going on a weekend trip to the hot sand baths in Kagoshima, visiting the famous pottery town Saga, and many different shrines. I also got to ride in the passenger seat with the third-fastest car racer on the Kyushu island of Japan for his warmup and victory laps at a car race organized by my host grandpa Jimmy, a former racer himself. We sang a lot of karaoke, ate the best agedashi tofu, went to a summer festival or “o-matsuri,” and dressed up in yukata. I can’t even begin to describe all the fun and amazing things we ate and did during my time there.

I noticed several cultural and familial differences throughout my exchange. For example, while I am used to doing my own laundry, in Japan my host grandma Barbie insisted on doing laundry for me every night I stayed at their house, which was something totally new to me. Also, sometimes if I was running late to school I would just buy a pastry at 7/11 to eat while I walked to school but that’s against cultural norms as it’s considered improper to eat and walk simultaneously. Be prepared for there to be familial or cultural differences in living and roles as a family wherever you go on exchange.

I would highly recommend exchange to every Athenian student as it is something that not everyone is able to do and we are extremely fortunate to have such a great resource and opportunity at our disposal thanks to Athenian. It really is a life-changing experience that isn’t common to get at this point in life. Even if you’re hesitant or the idea seems scary initially, just go for it! Unfortunately, I can’t exactly promise that your exchange will live up to every expectation that you might have, but even if it doesn’t, the experience of independence and living in a foreign country is invaluable. Also, it’s great to have ideas about where you might want to go, foods you might want to try, etc., but don’t set your expectations too high or try to plan out exactly what you want your exchange to look like, because not only will you quickly be let down, it’ll also leave no room for the unexpected and fun things that could spontaneously happen. My host family and friends in Fukuoka introduced me to all kinds of experiences I wouldn’t have found on my own. And it’s crazy to think that I now have a second family on the opposite side of the world. I will forever remember my time at Linden Hall, with my exchange family, and the amazing friends I made there.

I am Oliver Abola (‘26, they/them), and I am on exchange at Radford College in Canberra, ACT (Australian Capital Territory), Australia. Radford is an independent Anglican school, which has about 450 students in years 11 and 12 combined. The reason I count these years together is because, within the ACT, these years are grouped together as “college.” During college, students usually do not change their courses, and it is the grades they earn during these years that principally contribute to their applications to university (what we commonly refer to as “college”). 

Coming from America, I was quite surprised to find that I heard more about the upcoming American presidential election here in Australia than I had heard while in the US. My host family often listens to the news in the morning during breakfast and when driving to and from school. Combined with the fact that a significant portion of Australian news currently follows the US presidential election, I’m now much more familiar with the American presidential candidates. Additionally, I was surprised by how directly I have been asked my opinion on the election, even by people that I had basically never met. 

Another situation where I was surprised to hear about the US was in my tour of Australia’s parliament house! It turns out that they name their legislature after that of America, with the two chambers being called the House of Representatives and the Senate. These chambers are also led by the speaker and president, respectively. However, the system itself is mostly based on the Westminster system from the UK, except with a stronger Senate more akin to that of America. Because of this, Australia’s system is sometimes described as a “Washminister system.”  

Everything I’ve told you about so far pales in comparison to my favorite part of the entire exchange: Dirrum Festival. Dirrum Festival, organized by Dirrum Dirrum, is an annual event, similar to a TEDx event, where several speakers give speeches on a variety of topics. Where Dirrum differs from a TEDx event, however, is its theme and topics. The annual theme of Dirrum Festival is ‘for the common good,’ and it often hosts speakers on a variety of social and political issues of the time. This particular Dirrum Festival had the focus “makarrata,” which in the Yolngu Matha language means the coming together after a struggle. This word is given special significance due to its use in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, “the largest consensus of First Nations peoples on a proposal for substantive recognition in Australian history” (ulurustatement.org). In addition to the Uluru Statement, speakers at Dirrum Festival spoke about topics such as addressing child sexual abuse, confronting the dehumanization of Palestinians, and responding to the disproportionate impact of climate change on young people. 

Overall, I have had a great time while on exchange. I have learned a lot about Australia, and the First Nations that came before it and whose people are still fighting for Voice, Treaty, and Truth. I have seen breathtaking views and architectural wonders. I have met people I never thought I would meet and experienced a school I never would have gone to. I have pushed myself out of my comfort zone. I have learned about the issues facing ordinary Australians, both large and small. So, now I wonder: if you went on exchange, what could you do? 

Hi, I’m Eme, and I recently went on student exchange to Johannesburg (Jo’burg), South Africa. Flying solo for the first time from Heathrow to Jo’burg was both exciting and a bit nerve-wracking. Luckily, I was seated next to a super friendly South African couple, Melinda and her husband. They were so kind. Melinda even offered me gummy bears, which made me feel way more at ease. We talked about life in South Africa, and as we started to descend, I was struck by the sight of rivers below, gleaming like silver snakes in the sunlight. When I pointed it out, Melinda smiled and said, “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Her words felt like an invitation to embrace everything that lay ahead.

When we landed, I stuck close to the couple since I wasn’t quite sure how to navigate the airport alone. We eventually parted ways at immigration, but encountered an elderly lady in my line that guided me through the immigration process. The warmth of these people made me feel welcomed in South Africa right from the start.

My host family—Emma, her sister Caity, and their parents, Natasha and Leon—were amazing. They made me feel right at home in their beautiful ranch-style house, which had the perfect mix of contemporary and Africance elements. My room had a pink wall and a great view of the pool. The cozy pool house quickly became one of my favorite hangouts. I also got to know their housekeeper, Niki, and instantly fell in love with their four dogs: Dotty, Teddy, Kyju, and Licorice.

Jet lag is a real thing! It hit me harder than I expected and I ended up crashing for a few hours as soon as I arrived. But after a couple of days, I started to settle in. The meals were different but good—breakfasts of Weet-Bix or Future Life cereal, lunches of fish strips and salad, and dinners with lamb or pork chops (which I really enjoyed). One thing I had to get used to was the water quality; we had to boil it before drinking, which was something new for me.

My first day at St. Stithians (Saints) on June 12th was a bit nerve-wracking. The uniform—blazer, tie, stockings—was so different from the casual dress code at the Athenian. It definitely made me feel like I was stepping into a whole new world. I shadowed Emma in her classes and I noticed that the atmosphere was more formal, with students calling teachers Sir or Ma’am and standing to greet them. Even though I was nervous, I started to get the hang of things, meeting other students and gradually expanding my circle beyond just Emma’s friends.

This experience was so much more than just going to school in another country. It was a chance to push myself out of my comfort zone and grow in ways I didn’t expect.

Adapting to a New Culture – Before I left, I was pretty worried about how I’d adapt to a new culture and a new place. But I was surprised by how welcoming everyone was—not just my host family, but also my teachers, restaurant staff, and the girls I met at Saints. It reminded me a bit of “Southern hospitality.”

As I traveled around South Africa, I noticed the big gap between the “haves” and the “have-nots.” There were lots of beggars on the streets, people waiting for work on street corners, and I saw many settlements where families built their homes bit by bit over the years. At first, these homes looked abandoned, but I soon realized that even though these families didn’t have much, they were living their lives just like we do. They woke up early, walked to work, greeted their neighbors, and had dinner with their families. It really opened my eyes to the idea that, even though we live differently, we’re all more alike than I thought.

Personal Growth – Over the two months I spent in Johannesburg, I made a real effort to talk to as many people as possible. At first, it was kind of scary to approach strangers, but the more I did it, the easier it became. I learned that stepping out of my shell wasn’t as hard as I thought, and most people I met were really friendly and kind.

Volunteering and Memorable Moments – During my last week, while Emma was busy with exams, I spent a few days volunteering at Hearts of Hope, a children’s home. I helped prepare food and organize activities for the kids. It was inspiring to see how dedicated the “house mothers” were to giving these kids a loving home. It showed me just how important community is when it comes to making a difference in people’s lives.

Saying Goodbye – One of the hardest things I had to do on exchange was to say goodbye to all the friends I made along the way, which at this point, had become family. For the last week or so, I was in a state of unceasing dread, not wanting to have to give my last hugs and I love yous to so many people I care about. One aspect that helped me cope was having my friends write letters to me on a South African flag to take home. It’s a symbol of the love I am immersed in, and even though I’ve left the country, the love will never leave.

Coincidentally, the day I said goodbye to my friends was the day I had to say goodbye to my grandpa, Gong Gong. He was not doing well in the hospital and he was ready to go. After his passing, I was wondering why I have to part with the people I adore most. That’s when I realized exchange was not only meant to teach me how to mentally push myself, but also how to let go. One of the purposes of exchange was to learn how to let go peacefully, without resentment that these people won’t physically be here to experience the rest of my life by my side, and to appreciate the small moments we had together.

Conclusion – Being in South Africa for two months was a once-in-a-lifetime experience I’ll never forget. It was a chance to grow, see the world from a different perspective, and gain independence. If you’re thinking about doing an exchange, go for it! My advice is to go in with a completely open mind and to give yourself grace when immersed in a new culture. It’s a leap of faith, but it’s an invaluable opportunity to experience change and growth in ways you never thought possible.

My time in South Africa has been amazing. I am in my third weekend here. I landed in the evening at Cape Town International Airport and met my exchange family and drove 45 min to the town of Franschhoek where they reside. Franschhoek is a beautiful town known for its wine and olive oil. The town is surrounded by beautiful mountains that have trails for mountain biking and hiking. 

My first day in Franschhoek I was still recovering from jetlag and didn’t do much. On my second day in South Africa me and my exchange family went to Table Mountain in Cape Town. Table Mountain is a spectacular mountain that dominates the skyline of Cape Town and provides beautiful views of the ocean and the city. Due to winter storms and fog, the visibility was very poor; however, on the mountain I was still able to see native plants and flowers which was incredible. Later we went to Signal Hill which is another place for great views and the visibility was much better there. 

My first days of school were a wonderful experience. I had to wear a uniform but due to the cold weather we were permitted to wear the school tracksuit which was warmer and more comfortable. Everyone at the school was very welcoming and kind. I was able to meet many people during my first week. I am taking classes such as accounting, Afrikaans, and geography, which are subjects I had never studied before in my life. I also joined the football (Soccer) team here at Bridge House, which allowed me to connect with more people. Playing football in the rain late into the night is definitely one of my favorite experiences during my time in South Africa. The football team competed in a derby with a school seven hours away in a town called Knysna. We went in tour buses there and stayed the night. This was an amazing time to spend more time with my team and create lasting friendships. 

I have many memories of hanging out with friends in the town during the weekends and exploring the rest of Franschhoek. I also returned to Cape Town to visit the beach side and promenade as well as explore more of the city. My host family also took me to Cape Point, which is the most south western point in the African continent. Here one can see where the Indian Ocean and Atlantic Oceans meet and see more native creatures. I saw whales, penguins, seals, and baboons. 

Overall, I’m sad that my time in South Africa is coming to an end, but I’m also looking forward to the many adventures in the coming weeks.

I am currently attending Bridge House School in South Africa and am having so much fun! When I arrived in South Africa, my exchange partner Natasha, her parents, and a couple of friends met me at the Cape Town airport. During the two weeks following my arrival, Bridge House was on a break from school and we took the opportunity to travel to Kruger National Park. We got to spend time together while camping in an entirely new environment for me. We saw beautiful sunsets, wild animals, and constellations I had never seen before. It was amazing to be able to see a little bit of the wilderness in South Africa before heading back to Franschhoek to begin the term at Bridge House.

So far at school, I have been able to take classes like Afrikaans and make new friends from all over South Africa and beyond at Bridge House. I am having so much fun on exchange, and can’t wait for more adventures to come as my time here goes on!

I spent my spring semester at Schule Schloss Salem, a boarding school near Lake Constance in Germany. Salem and Athenian have organized countless student exchanges for many years. In 1932, Athenian’s very own founder, Dyke Brown, also studied at Schule Schloss Salem. At the time, the head of school was Kurt Hahn, founder of Salem, Round Square and Outward Bound. Here, Dyke Brown learned from Kurt Hahn the principles of community service, globalism, and spending time outdoors. Athenian’s IDEALS are a direct result of what he learned at the same 14th century monastery where I have been for the past few weeks. Another neat connection is that my great-great grandfather on my dad’s side, who is German, was a teacher at Salem a few years later.

Schule means school, Schloss means castle, and Salem is the name of the town where the school is located.

Even though I’ve been to Germany before, living in a boarding school was still a very new experience for me. At Athenian, there is some freedom in choosing what classes you are interested in taking. Here, there is a much more limited choice. My classes here were Math, Natural Science, Chemistry, German, History, Physics, Health Education, Sports, English, Sociology, Art, Ethics, and Geography. Unlike at Athenian, most classes take place only once a week. Another difference is that you are with the same people in all classes except for ethics.

I have noticed many cultural differences, particularly between Athenian and Schule Schloss Salem. It is a very formal atmosphere here. At the beginning of every class, we stand up to greet our teacher. We wear uniforms (school polo, sweater, and jeans) and every room has a chore to do each week, ranging from taking out the trash to washing the dishes. Every evening, we turn in all of our electronic devices, and don’t get them back until after classes end, which is usually at 4pm or later the next day. This helps students connect with each other instead of being on their phones.

We have school all day Mondays to Fridays and half day on Saturdays. Each class period is 90 minutes long and we rarely get breaks. This is one of the aspects of Salem that took me a while to get accustomed to. Athenian emphasizes spending time outdoors through programs like AWE. Salem also believes that exercising is a key aspect of one’s education. What does that look like here? We wake up every morning for a mandatory 6:45 am run around campus. Who needs coffee?

After our morning run, we have five meals every day: first breakfast, second breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner. First breakfast and lunch are mandatory for all. During lunch, a school speaker will ring a bell, and no one speaks for a few minutes. All you can hear is the clinking of utensils against plates. It is a moment of silence in appreciation of having a warm meal.

One of Salem’s unique programs are their service groups, which ranges from fundraising in the Round Square service group to learning basic skills in First Aid to practicing firefighting skills in the Fire Brigade. I joined the First Aid group and practiced teamwork, communication, and first aid skills. Another major valuable part of my exchange has been the opportunity to continue improving my German. All of my classes are taught in German and I’ve managed to keep up.

During my time here, some special Salem traditions took place. During Salemer Weekend, we had a football (or as we call it, soccer) tournament between all of the wings. The rest of the time was spent with everyone’s own wing. In mine, each room cooked either an appetizer, main course, or dessert. It was really nice to cook, eat, and just spend time together. May Day (May 1st) is a public holiday in all of Germany. We had no classes, and each wing presented their Coat of Arms, which were then attached to a maypole in the main courtyard. Last week was Kevin Week. It was an opportunity for students to gain more independence. Our mentors and teachers were present, but students taught classes, and wing assistants took on responsibilities that the mentor usually does.

Over the past few weeks, I have grown closest to the students in my wing. There are students from Thailand, China, and Germany, as Salem is a very international school like Athenian. I have met people from both the German and English systems, whether it was during a weekend rock climbing trip or during swim practice. In addition to weekend activities and sports practices, my friends and I hang out in our wing or in the club house, which is open on the weekends for students to have a little dance party. On Saturdays, I go to the nearby city of Überlingen with my Salem exchange student, Florentine, and her friends. On Sundays, nearly all stores, other than some restaurants, are closed.

When you need to do a quick grocery run, you can walk 30-40 minutes to Salem. Edeka is the primary supermarket most students go to when they need to buy something to cook. One difference is that in Germany you have to rent a shopping cart. Nearby is the Schlosssee, another small lake that gets really crowded in the summer.

I would highly recommend going on exchange. Not only will you improve your language skills, or maybe learn a little of a new one, but you will make many international friends. My advice to students going on exchange would be to put yourself out there and get to know as many people as you can!