Final Days for our Exchange Student Alaya

Using words to describe my experience and my feeling during this year, is impossible. From the start I remenber, in the plane to Australia, I felt so exited but it was terrifing to not have any friends and I thought I would never be able to understand and speak english. 

Once here, in Hamilton, people talked to me and honestly, I understood nothing. But everybody was including me and my host family was amazing. And one day I made my first friends here, Logan, my english became better and everything seemed easier. The incredible teachers of Baimbridge College and their students have made me love the school. This school has such a good mood, everybody is supportive, friendly and make you feel like you matter -which is very diffrent from the french school system- The school has so many activities for the students and I love it. Here you have such things as athletics, swimming sport, cross country and the Fisher cup, which creates link between all the students. I wish we have this in France too. 

I went surfing for the first time with the school and I have been on an outdoor camp, seen seals and learned more about Australian marine biology. I learn how to play netball (I’m going to miss it so much) and even played footy for the school. I also was so lucky that my host family gave me the chance to travel around Australia and I will be forever grateful. I have been in Canberra, Gold Coast, Kingston, Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road, Port McDonald, Sydney to watch the New Years fireworks… and so much more. 

I loved all my teachers for my Grade 10 and 11 here, thank you very much for taking your time and believe in me. I really want to thanks Miss Hiscock who made me love psychology so much, Mr Macdonald for helping me with my broken English, Mrs Phillips for being Mrs Phillips , Mrs Jury for believe in me in every netball games and Mr Hopkins for let me join the outdoor camp.

I have met incredible people , who became my friends and I hope they are never going to forget every memory we got togeter because I definetly won’t! You make me feel like one of yours and forget that I’m 15 000 kilometre from home. Now I feel home here too. They bring me to Melbourne and we ice skate because they know i love it. Edie brought me to a footy game at the MCG , it was my first one and it was AMAZING.

So Edie, Bella, Logan, Max, Emily and Gurreet, thank you for everything and every moment we pass together, thank you to let me join your group and always include me in everything.

As an French girl I was scared about the Aussie food but I have to admit that I am gonna miss Tim Tam, the Parma, Cherry Ripe, and the taste of the apples (it’s crazy but they’re so much better here). I have loved to be include in a different culture and have the opportunity to live the Australian lifestyle for a year. I am so lucky to have the opportunity to life my experience around you all. 

My exchange year was not perfect but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. This year I have learned so much from all of you, and I would never be able to show you how grateful I am that our paths crossed. I’ll always remember you and you all have a special space in my heart. This year will forever be special to me.

See you

 Je vous aime, prenez soin de vous, et merci pour tout ,

Bisous -Alaya

Outdoor Education

Sight seeing

Friends and activities

We would like to sincerely thank Alaya our exchange students for sharing her experiences and reflections on her time with us. It has been wonderful to learn more about her journeys, cultures, and the opportunities they have embraced while being part of our school community.

We are grateful for the positive contribution Alaya has made to our school and hope her stories inspire others to welcome new experiences and connections from around the world.