I arrived in Denmark a couple of weeks ago and now I feel I’ve adjusted to life here. I could have never imagined that such rich tradition, history, and culture is packed into this tiny country. But, the biggest impact I’ve had is the Danish sense of calmness and appreciation for “living in the moment.”

As I am sitting on the bus on the way to school watching the bright orange sun rise, I am given the time to reflect upon my experience thus far. I look out to the fields of tiny white flowers peeking through the grass, wild Christmas trees, and beautiful lakes. The scenery of Denmark accompanied by chirping birds and the scent of the morning air gives a sense of serenity and peace. Maybe this is one of the reasons, but I find that most Danish people are very relaxed and don’t get stressed easily. In fact, I realized, I haven’t truly lived in the moment until I got here.

The school schedule is unpredictable; however, students and teachers don’t complain. Without prior notice, teachers cancel classes or change our schedule, giving a sense of life constantly changing. There is no chaos, rather everyone just accepts it as normal and quickly adjusts their life accordingly. Another feature of this school is that lunches are very long. They last for about an hour, allowing for time to talk and hang out in a very relaxed atmosphere. The teachers don’t allow for cell phones while in the lunch room, so the students really interact with each other. Some people even take walks in the forests to get some fresh air.

Also, the teachers don’t give out much homework. Even then, many students don’t finish their homework in time because they know if they miss the deadline, the teachers would accommodate. So, the students are not stressed about finishing homework. In fact, they are not concerned about achieving good grades. This could be due to the school system in which you get a second chance if your grades are not as good as others. All of these may be factors to a stress-free, calm, and more enjoyable student life.

Being in this relaxed environment, I find myself at peace. This is what makes exchange so interesting. Here, I can hit a pause button on my daily Athenian routine and get to experience a completely new culture and lifestyle. I am living a life I have not experienced at Athenian. I think I can get used to this, at least for a while.

My first couple of weeks at Felsted have been quite hectic, but they have been full of wonderful new experiences. I am in year 12 which is equivalent to Athenian’s grade 11, and for the past two weeks I have experienced the life of both an A-level student and an IB student. An A-level student chooses three subjects to study in depth and they use letter grades. For example, I’m taking French, history, and business. International Baccalaureate (IB) students take six or more subjects, specifically the ones that challenge them the most, and they are graded on a scale of 1-7. My classes when shadowing the IB student were high-level chemistry, standard chemistry, biology, high level biology, literature, math, psychology, high-level psychology, and Spanish. All the class sizes range from 3-16 students so, they are almost the same size as the classes at Athenian. Though it has been a big change from Athenian, all of the students and teachers have been incredibly welcoming.

Boarding has also been a brand-new experience for me, and it has gone surprisingly well so far. I am at Stock’s, which holds girls from year 9 through year 12 (or Lower 6^th). All the girls are so nice and have been making sure that I know exactly what to do and where to go. The house is wonderful and has a very warm and cozy feeling to it, that makes you feel at home. All of the Lower 6^th girls have their own rooms, and though they might appear very small, I have found that it’s all the room I need. My favorite part of the house might be the backyard, they have a gorgeous garden with a couple of picnic benches. Though it isn’t too pleasant on a rainy day, it is beautiful on a sunny day. I also have the privilege of watching the sunset at 8:00 pm right outside my window.

I have already been to two Felsted events and they were conveniently back to back. On Friday, the 20^th I had a 6^th form social (both year 12 and 13). I had originally thought it would be something like sophomore fun night, but I turned out to be very wrong. It was actually a black-tie event, in which we had a three-course meal followed by some ‘dancing.’ It was a beautiful event and everyone had a lot of fun.

The next night, on Saturday, my house had their house feast, which is arguably the most important event of the year for boarders. This event was even nicer than the social. The girls had been planning their outfits and hair for weeks. House feast is when the whole house comes together to have dinner, accompanied by their parents. Some parents drove up from London, some from Germany, and one family even flew up from Zimbabwe. The night started out with some time to socialize and mingle, as well as take lots of pictures. It was followed by a wonderful dinner and an abundance of performances, speeches, and awards.

Not only is England incredibly different from Danville, but Felsted is immensely different from Athenian. The uniform is one of the many things that stands out as a difference. It depends on your year, but the 6^th form uniform for girls is a knee-length pencil skirt, a button-down blouse, a blazer, and some flats. The boys have to wear a suit and tie, button-down shirt, and dress shoes. The rules get stricter as you get younger, as the younger years have to wear their hair up and they cannot wear any jewelry besides a small cross necklace. The school also has mandatory study periods in which students cannot talk to each other, and they have to quietly study in their rooms. Felsted has chapel three days a week, which has been very interesting as I don’t go to church often. They are only 15-minute sessions in which we sing a couple of songs and hear a reading or story. I expected to not like it at all, but it is turning out to be better than I thought.

The school is in the very small town of Felsted and is not easy to miss as it is a beautiful campus originally founded in 1564. The little town surrounding it consists of a couple of restaurants, a church, a couple of small stores, and a Swan Inn. Though the town doesn’t have a ton to offer, you can drive into Braintree, which has plenty to do and is only a short 16-minute drive.

Even though almost everyone who goes on exchange says this at some point, I cannot stress enough how important it is to not have set expectations. Though it’s almost impossible to go into exchange with a completely open mind, really try and just go with the flow. I have only been here for two weeks but some of my best experiences have been because I said yes.

 

 

I arrived in Tanzania about three days before school started, which gave me enough time to get used to the time difference and settle in. Even though I was tired and overwhelmed, my host family greeted me at the airport and immediately made me feel at home. When I first arrived, my biggest worry was how I was going to fit in with the family. I soon found out that I had nothing to worry about because the entire family was super welcoming and made sure I felt comfortable.

One of the biggest differences I first noticed was that the family had maids, drivers and people waiting outside in the rain to open the gates to the house when we first arrived. The first couple of days were tiring because I was so jet-lagged, but it was nice to get to know my family more and see the city. The day before school started we went to school to get my uniform. As we were walking around campus we saw a group of monkeys walking around in front of us, which was surprising to me but apparently normal for the school.

When I started school the next day, everyone was super welcoming and wanted to get to know me which made me feel more comfortable with everything. Something that was surprising to me was how much it rains here. Something new I have tried was netball. It is a very popular sport here and even though I’m bad at playing, it has helped me bond with some of the students and make some new memories.

Overall, I have had an amazing time here and can’t wait for the next four weeks.

I arrived in Germany a week before I began classes at Louisenlund because the school was on Easter break. This gave me a chance to get over jet lag and to begin to explore Germany. During this time, we saw sites in Berlin, Hamburg, and Lübeck.

I got to school on Sunday evening, the day before classes began. After meeting my house father, Mr. Geest, and my roommate Oliver, I was greeted by almost everyone else in the house. I really appreciated that everyone made an effort to introduce themselves to me and also how understanding they were, even if I immediately forgot their names.

The weather has been mostly warm and sunny, which I like as it is similar to weather in California. However, sometimes the weather can change a lot in one day. It can start as sunny, then become cloudy and pour rain for an hour, and then back to sunny again. But overall it has been pleasant and warm most of the time.

Classes are from 8:15 to 5:00 in a total of 12 periods. Although it is really six as each class takes two periods, making each class 90 minutes. I am in the IB program which means all of my classes are in English, which makes it a lot easier. The entire curriculum seems to revolve around the final exams. Each teacher is constantly reminding their students how each skill can be used on the test.

The biggest differences from Athenian is that everyone must refer to teachers by Mr. or Mrs. and that they have bread and cheese for breakfast and dinner every day. One of the biggest challenges is that most people talk to each other in German only. Although most of them speak English, it can be hard getting used to not understanding what people are saying. This is especially difficult at Dennis’ house (my exchange) where he and his father are the only ones who speak any English. A piece of advice for others is to learn at least some key phrases before going off on exchange, it will help a lot. Not doing that is a mistake I made when coming to Germany.

Overall, I have had a great time in Germany. Everyone has been very welcoming and I look forward to the next two months at Lund.

Underneath Kronborg Castle, there’s a statue of a knight. Known for his incredible heroics, Holger Danske was set in plaster and later concrete and is a reminder of the strength Denmark once had. Legend has it that when the country is in need, Holger Danske will rise from his seat and lead his armies into battle one last time.

Denmark seems to be full of places like this, ordinary landscapes undermined with history. The school we’re going to has a museum older than American independence and rumoured underground tunnels connecting all the buildings. There’s a tank in a field near my host family’s house that’s been left abandoned since WWII, but still keeps watch with a rusty barrel over acres of farmland.

The country has a sense of worn comfort to it, but of self-importance, too. It’s almost as if, as a collective, Danish people know exactly where they are and what they need to do. Maybe it’s the growing trend of hygge, or comfiness, or maybe it’s just the settling in process, but people seem calmer here than they are back home. More aware of things around them. Maybe too, of course, this is all just me projecting what I want onto the experience.

Herlufsholm feels like it’s losing a game of hide and seek with the students. Buildings are nestled in a forest, huge brick things with too many stairs and empty classrooms. Classes change location every day, and the schedule makes less sense than our own. After school activities are at random times on different days of the week, and classes get cancelled at the last minute. But despite all this, or maybe because of it, the school feels more whole, more like something new every day. It’s confusing, and I seem to get lost a lot, but that isn’t a problem. It’s more like every wrong turn is a new day, and every day has more to find. Thinking of it that way makes it feel less like a countdown, a countdown to the end of the school day, to the end of the week, how long I’ve been away, how long until I have to go back. It’s all there in one place, a jumble of locked rooms and tardy slips holding up an exchange.

Barren was the first word I thought of when I got to Copenhagen, with its icy streets and grey weather color scheme. But the longer I stay here, the more pockets open up, and like Holger Danske show a Denmark that is warm, and new, and a little bit scary but comfortable. Two weeks in, and time zones have never been less of a concern.

 

 

I arrived in Scotland a few days before my exchange experience was due to begin. By the time school started, I was one of the few exchange students who was completely over jet lag, which made my transition much easier. When I first stepped into the school, students were just coming back from their winter break. There were shouts of greeting and many hugs shared between friends. Wondering if I would ever become a part of such a tight-knit community, I unpacked my bag and tried to make my dorm room into a home.

Almost immediately, students came to greet me. First the other exchange students, just as bewildered as I was, sought each other out. Then my dorm mates, amidst screaming and running down the halls, welcomed me to the school. At Gordonstoun, I’ve found a community of students that are brilliant, funny, warm, and welcoming. Boarding immediately became a joy. I love living with so many wonderful people, although I am grateful that I have a room to myself. Kids come to Gordonstoun from all over the world. I’ve met exchange students from Denmark, New Zealand, and Germany, and full-time students from Nigeria, Russia, Poland, Spain, and countless other countries. I have yet to meet a student, save myself, who is fluent in only one language.

Every day is an adventure of new experiences. So far I have shot a gun for the first time and joined a sewing class, two activities that are entirely against my nature. Students attend chapel every day, which lead to my first communion service. Navigating the campus still proves to be a challenge, but wandering aimlessly is absolutely worthwhile because the school grounds are so beautiful.

Classes are very different than those at Athenian. Each class seems to be teaching towards the next test, but they are all very interesting. Every student takes Chemistry, Physics, and Biology at the same time. In Literature class, we have yet to write an essay. At the moment, we are reading and analyzing Blood Brothers, a musical that is well known in the UK. In history class, we are studying the Cold War. It is fascinating and entertaining to learn US history through European eyes.

As beautiful as Gordonstoun is and the people in it are, I can’t help thinking of the beauty I left behind. I miss the view of Mount Diablo just outside of Athenian’s classrooms. I miss bringing my own lunch: being gluten-free has proved to be difficult. I miss walking the streets of Berkeley. Most of all, I miss you guys. Regardless of where you are in the world, it is the friends you have that make your experience. The wonderful friends I’ve made here have made me more grateful for the friendships I have back home.

I am so excited to continue a wonderful experience at Gordonstoun!

I arrived home in San Francisco a little over two weeks ago. I was immediately thrown back into school here.  Processing my exchange experience was sent to the back of my mind as I faced the whirlwind of responsibilities in front of me. I missed the first week of school due to a backpacking trip at the school in South Africa. As I scrambled to catch up, I didn’t take much time to think through my exchange. Two weeks later, as I’ve settled in back home and have caught up with all of my work, my trip already feels like a distant memory. The stark differences between here and there make it seem even more surreal. I was glad to be back in school here and at the time I was happy to not have to think about exchange. As it seems far enough in the past now, I feel much more honest about my trip. Letting it stir in my mind allowed me to sift through exactly what made it the way it was.

My last few weeks of school were decent overall. I became a lot closer to people in my last week there. Leaving them right after I started to get to really know them was difficult. I met a lot of amazing people, but there were also people I met whom I wish I did not. On exchange, you can be a slightly different person. You have to figure out the types of people you want to surround yourself with. Finding those who like you for who you are was one of the most difficult parts of exchange for me.

One of the highlights of my exchange was going on a backpacking trip through the school there. Each year, the grade 10s hike the Fanie Botha trail, a famous hike in South Africa. I can’t say everyone in my group enjoyed the hike, but I know I did. Outdoor adventure has been a part of my life since I could walk and being able to do that on the other side of the world was something truly special. I made close friends on the hike in the four days it lasted. The bonds created on that short trip rivaled those I made in my entire month at the school.

The hike was gorgeous, except for one day during which we hiked ten miles on an exposed ridge fighting pouring rain and biting wind. Despite almost freezing to death, we all made it through.  We spent hours around a large fire every night. We laughed as we dried our soaking clothes, had deep honest conversations after cooking dinner, played games and told stories. (Advanced Uno may have ruined some friendships.) Those evenings were some I will never forget.

Overall, my exchange was filled with ups and downs. I have a deeper understanding of who I am as a person, the good parts and the bad. Going on exchange is truly a unique experience.

At the beginning of my exchange, as several things were going downhill, I asked myself if I would regret it by the end. At the end, in no way do I regret exchange. I learned from the bad times, I cherish the good times, and I think I’m a stronger person on the other side.

Arrival

After a brutal 15-hour flight, I finally touched down in Sydney, Australia. I thought I had the heavy lifting behind me, but the 5-hour flight from Sydney to Perth was harder to endure because of the anxiety leading up to experience of a lifetime. After meeting Kirwan’s family at the airport, we drove an hour and a half from Perth to his house in Northam. Northam is a very small country community in rural Western Australia. We spent a night in Northam and then traveled to their farm in Koorda. Koorda is another hour and a half from Northam, totaling three hours from Perth. Although Kirwan’s family owns the farm in Koorda, they no longer use it to grow and produce canola. It is simply kept to continue the family tradition of owning agricultural land. On the farm, we rode motorbikes, shot birds, hit some golf balls, and kicked the footy (Australian football). That night we went kangaroo spotting in the truck, fulfilling one of my to-dos while Down Under.

After a day on the farm, we made our way to Rottnest Island, which is about 30 minutes off the coast of Perth. On the island, we went fishing, snorkeling and explored the entire island on bike. While on this island I was introduced to an animal called a Quokka. I would describe it as a mixture between a kangaroo and a koala. Quokkas are only found in one place in the whole world, and it is Rottnest Island. After an amazing weekend on the island, we made our way back to Northam to prepare for school. I am very excited to meet everyone at Scotch College and cannot wait to continue my exchange experience in Western Australia.

Departure

After having the time of my life at Scotch College, I am very disappointed to say I am currently 10 hours into my 15-hour flight back from Sydney to SFO. The highlight of my trip was easily the boarding experience. Simply put, I would describe boarding as living with your best friends. I loved being able to ride my bike to the beach after school or walk downtown for food after soccer practice. The school is in close proximity to Perth city, and everything I needed was a bike, train or bus ride away. I made my closest connections with the boarders. Because Scotch belongs to a private school collection called the PSA, I made friends from a number of schools, not just Scotch. Scotch is an all-boys school, but there are a number of girls schools less than a 15-minute bike ride away.

Living in a boarding helped me become much more independent and forced me way out of my comfort zone. I suddenly went from having my mom do my laundry, to doing my own every Tuesday, at the allotted time slot assigned to me. I would highly recommend exchange to every sophomore. I came in with low expectations and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of my time Down Under.

These last four weeks have been a complete blur. It feels as if I just arrived yesterday with my bags at the airport. My exchange trip has been an extraordinary adventure that I will remember for the rest of my life. The beginning of school was rough for me; I didn’t know what to do or where I was going. But as I learned the general time table, I became more comfortable with the students around me. At Scotch, I was put with my exchange partner, Will, in every single class period. This was okay, but as time went on I decided to branch out and look for new people. I met Dan through one of Will’s friends in PE and we quickly became great friends. I never expected to make a really good friend on exchange, so I was unprepared to say goodbye when the time came to leave Perth.

Perth itself was not very different from San Francisco. The Perth culture is generally progressive and it is also located on the coast. On one of the weekends I was there, Will caught the flu and I had to decide to either go to a family friend’s farm an hour away from Perth or stay home. I really wanted to stay at his house because I didn’t have the confidence to leave Will and go to the farm alone. When Will’s family pondered if I were to go or not, I was about to say no when something changed in my mindset. I don’t know what it was, but I ended up saying yes, I’d go. After going to the farm and getting to ride in a tractor and push out a hay bale, I was very glad that I chose to go even though I was alone. After thinking about why I said yes, I think Perth has given me the confidence to say yes to live my life the way I want without worrying about the judgement of other people. Leaving my various insecurities in the dust for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure is what my decision came down to.

One of the prime highlights of my trip was walking back from school next to the train and going to one of the various cafes in the Claremont quarter. It was a cool new experience to sit down and have a berry smoothie or an iced tea after school and talk with my exchange.

Another highlight was learning how to successfully jaywalk in Australia. Unlike California, Australia doesn’t have many crosswalks, so it’s commonplace to walk across the street when there aren’t any cars coming. I must admit I’m glad to be back in California with crosswalks.

When I heard that Scotch had marching, I thought it was going to be a once a year sort of thing.  It turns out that it’s a very serious event on Friday mornings and I was supposed to march with the Shearer house (pronounced Shira). I was terrible the first week and kept on shoe flat-tiring the student in front of me. The next week I was better, but got yelled at by a Shearer house head for wearing the wrong shirt with the uniform (oops). We laughed when I told him I was an exchange. (Exchanges generally wear their school uniform from home, so people thought I was a normal student.)

When I was at the farm, I had the opportunity to ride inside a tractor, which was pretty awesome. I also got to stand at a real bonfire and roast super oversized American marshmallows.

Finally, going to Perth’s city beach with my exchange host and Dan was an enjoyable experience. We didn’t go into the water because of “Warning Sharks!” signs placed everywhere, but it was still an experience I hope to never forget.

I would definitely recommend and encourage sophomores to take this wonderful opportunity to not only explore a new part of the world, but also to learn something new about yourself. This was an opportunity of a lifetime. I am grateful for the lifelong friendships I’ve made and the chance to go on exchange.