Lindisfarne Exchange

During this past summer, we had the pleasure of receiving a Warner exchange grant to Hastings, New Zealand to attend Lindisfarne college. We would like to thank the Warner family, Mr. Gioia, and Mrs. Scholer for this amazing experience. Through our journey from Nashville, Tennessee to Napier, New Zealand, which in total was a 30 hour trip, we were lucky enough to not experience jet lag and enjoy the beautiful sights of the New Zealand landscape.

View from the plane.

Stepping off the plane, we were quickly acclimated to the mild Hawkes Bay winter. Directly after, we were taken to be fitted with our poppy red Lindisfarne attire. After being fitted we were taken to be introduced to our teachers and various Lindisfarne staff. Noticing our jet lag catching up with us, our families took us to our separate homes to rest, where we were able to watch game 7 of the NBA finals and experience a staple of American culture through the eyes of an outsider.

Throughout our exchange, our families exposed us to a vast plethora of New Zealand culture in our trips to Wellington and Rotorua.

Maori Church

Exhibit from Battle of Gallipoli Museum

Geothermal vent in Maori village

Josh and host Steve in Hobbiton village.

Our time on the ski lift at the luge resort

Another highlight of our foreign experience was participating in the national sport, rugby. Proving to be naturals, we picked up the sport quickly and became contributors to the team.

On the prowl.

Post game picture

By far, the best part of our trip was enjoying the many beautiful sights the country had to offer.

View from Josh's host house.

Wellington city

Lake Taupo

Final Sunset in New Zealand

Again, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Warner family, Mr. Gioia, and Mrs. Scholer for this amazing experience.

The Southport Exchange by Jackson Maradik and Dylan Haselton

The Southport Exchange by Jackson Maradik and Dylan Haselton

This summer we had the opportunity to travel to Southport, Australia to attend The Southport School for four weeks. After arriving we were shown to our boarding houses where we would be living for the next month. Dylan was assigned in the Biddle House and Jackson was assigned to McKinley House. Both houses had a unique group of students from all over Australia and surrounding regions. After settling in, we were given a tour of the school by a year twelve student from Biddle boarding house, James Blok, who explained how things worked at the school and took us to get our class schedules. We tried to fit as much as possible on the first day before bowing out to jet lag in the late afternoon.

Our first full day, we attended classes on a Friday before a weekend with a home rugby match. Every Friday after lunch everyone in the school gathers in “the pit” where the whole school practices their war cries before the game the next day.

Rugby matches are a big deal at The Southport School and are all-day affairs. It is taken so seriously, many of the varsity players go on to play professional rugby for teams all around Australia. The entire school shows out to cheer on their classmates who play every Saturday afternoon.

When we weren’t in class, we would sometimes go down to the beach in Gold Coast which is only a 10 minute drive from the school. The Gold Coast is a large tourist attraction in Australia because of the beautiful beaches and warm weather year round. The main beach we visited was called Surfers Paradise. “Surfers” brought many unique restaurants and shops outside of the general area of the school while offering a view of life in an Australian city.

On the weekends, we would sometimes go out on leave with some other boys at the school and they would show us different parts of Australia away from the school. On our last weekend we made the trip up to the Currumbin Wildlife Preserve where we saw all the native Australian species close up.

The Australians we met seemed to be very interested in the american lifestyle, with frequent questions surrounding the rise of Donald Trump and Gun Control. It was a highlight to explain to them American culture, while learning life in Australia at the same time.

We are very grateful for the opportunity to have gone on this trip and glad to call it the highlight of our summer. Thank you to the Warner family for sponsoring the trip, Mr. Gioia and Mrs. Scholer for organizing, and everyone at The Southport School, especially the boys in each house, for being so welcoming. We will never forget this life-changing experience because we were able to fully immerse ourselves in a completely different culture than there is here in America. We really enjoyed our time in Australia and would recommend this exchange to anyone considering it.

 Jackson with a kangaroo at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

 A view of the Gold Coast

 The clocktower at the school

The view of the city from behind the school

A picture of the Biddle House

Our Time in South Africa and at Michaelhouse: Cole Thornton and Turner Johnson

Our Time in South Africa and at Michaelhouse: Cole Thornton and Turner Johnson

Day 1:
We landed in Durban at 10 pm after a full 24 hours of travel and met our host brother Murray and his mother, Deborah Finlay. They took us back to their home in the Mount Edgecomb subdivision and introduced us to Rusks and Milo while discussing our respective cultures.

Day 2:
After a good night's sleep and a late morning due to jet-lag, we ate a quick breakfast and headed out to the coast. We spent the day on the beach and at the Ushaka Water Park where we snorkeled, watched dolphin shows and tried Steers, a staple of South African fast food. Upon returning home, we played golf on the neighborhood course and had an ostrich, chicken and sausage dinner.

Day 3:

The next day we drove around the city of Durban and visited various cultural sites. We spent the afternoon at the enormous Gateway Mall and ended the day relaxing at the beautiful Oyster Hotel and dining at the Bar B Coa restaurant. 

Day 4:

We left early to meet our next host family, the Nortons, who lived in Howick. Rosebud Norton and her son Will picked us up and we bade the Finlays farewell. After dropping our things at their lovely home, we drove through the countryside of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. We stopped at the historic Nelson Mandela capture sight and saw the simple but powerful monument and museum. They then showed us the Michaelhouse grounds and took us go-karting before we came home to enjoy a delicious dinner and conversations.

Day 5: 

On our second day with the Nortons, we go to experience some genuine African shopping at the local market in Howick where we were able to cover gifts for us and our families. That afternoon, we headed to the famous Karkloof Canopy tours. We spent two exciting hours zip-lining through the top of a mist forest while overlooking the midlands. After arriving home, we ate dinner with the Norton's extended family and prepared to go to our last family in the morning.

Day 6 and 7:

We met our last family, the Pitts, and drove to their farm in Underberg. Our two days here were incredible and full. We chased sheep, milked cows and played porch tennis on their beautiful farm in the scenic mountains. On the second day with them we visited Sani Pass in the Lesotho. We experienced a different aspect of African culture and many spectacular vistas. That night, we packed up and headed for our final three weeks at Michaelhouse. 

Our Time at Michaelhouse School:

In our time at Michaelhouse we met a bunch of amazing people and took some amazing classes. Turner was able to explore some of his interest in his Economics and Accounting classes, and Cole could flourish in his History and Art classes. We both participated in sport while we were on campus. Cole played tennis and we both played soccer and squash. Living in Mackenzie House, We met friends that we will never forget and forged friendships that will never fade. 

Game Reserve:

During out stay at Michaelhouse we took three days and went on a safari at the Nambiti Game Reserve at the N 'daka lodge. We went on four game drives and saw a ton of beautiful animals; elephants, buffalo, ostrich, rhino, impala, kudu, zebra, giraffe, lion, and hippo. We also ate delicious food on the trip to Nambiti. 

Final Thoughts:

Our time in South Africa was a truly unforgettable and once-in-a-lifetime trip. We got to experience so many different areas and ways of life, from city to town to farm, all while journeying through the scenic countryside. We met so many wonderful people and loved our stay at Michaelhouse. We definitely recommend this exchange!!

CCGS Exchange 2016 - Aubrey Greene

CCGS Exchange 2016 - Aubrey Greene

       I visited Christ Church Grammar School in Perth, Australia. The school is all boys with a Christian foundation, and it teaches young boys to grow into good men. Being very similar to MBA, I felt right at home. Academic studies included: Applications Math, Politics and Law, Philosophy, Modern History, and Literature. The politics class found US politics to be more interesting than their own countries elections. Many debates and discussion about Trump and Hillary took place. In Literature, we ironically read the most American book possible, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Modern History was studying the transition from WWI to WWII. Philosophy discussed the controversial topics of morality and humans' innate nature. Other activities at school included rugby, helping at an elderly home, and woodworking.

       Spending time outside of the classroom was just as exciting. I did many activities which included: Australian Football League game, Rottnest Island, Petting zoo, sight seeing, surfing, and meeting new friends in the city. The Australian Football League (AFL) is a mix of soccer and rugby and is played on an oval shaped field. I visited Rottnest Island For a weekend using a ferry. The island is home to a unique endangered species called quokkas. They are harmless and crowd the entire island. While at the island I caught an octopus, watched a pelican eat a fish, and rode bicycles around the shore. The petting zoo was the most interesting sight to see. Tamed deer lay in the dirt and wait for people to pet them while kangaroos and wallabies sit right next to them. Ponies roam the grounds next to obnoxious geese and pelicans. Never before have I been a foot away from an ostrich with only a fence in between us.

                                             


       The experience was life-changing as I made new life long friends and family. Both the Edwards and Konarik families made me feel right at home, and I could not have had a more welcoming family. The families allowed for me to visit the sites of Perth and see the best that Australia has to offer. By the end of my trip I almost felt as if I was part of each family. I hope to visit the families again in the future. I hope to see my hosts, Adam and Nic, visit MBA for exchange in the fall of 2016. The trip made me realize how similar people are on the other side of the world, and now I have three sets of parents as well as three families.

Exchange to Kings School 2016

Connor Mulloy, Jake Evans, Jack Hayles, and I traveled for a total of thirty hours to reach Sydney, Australia. Once when we arrived, the jet lag was severe. We learned about our extreme jet lag when we attended the Super Bowl of Australian rugby, The State of Origin. We supported our home state, New South Wales Blues, against the Queenslands Maroons. Our experience was enhanced because we were able to play this game on one of the King's School's teams. All four of us were lucky enough to score a try for our team in a big victory over a cross town rival. Jake and Connor separated from Jack and I as they went to their host's farms, hunted kangaroos, and attended an annual horse race at Mallawa.

Jack and I however enjoyed our weekend by going to Noosa Islands in Queensland. Jack and I surfed and jet skied the biggest waves we've ever seen. As our trip came to an end, the four of us spent time downtown visiting the landmarks and enjoying the light show on the side of the Sydney Opera House, called Vivid.

Although the plane's entertainment system was broken on the way home which created a very long and boring plane ride, this trip was an incredible once in a lifetime experience that none of us will ever forget. Many thanks to MBA and the Warner Family for the unforgettable opportunity.

Melbourne Grammar School

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Melbourne Grammar School

Joe Moxley's Post

I had an incredible experience in Melbourne.  The city is amazing, and it is a diverse place.  With all the cultural diversity, I ate many different types of food.  The food there is great.  My host family lived right in the city, so there was much to see in walking distance from the house.

On my first day in the city, my host Jackson showed me around town.  The photo on the left is of me with the Yarra River and a popular Australian Football stadium in the background.  On my stay I went to a Australian rules football game, and it was awesome.  The sport is a unique game mainly played in the state of Victoria.  The photo on the right was taken on the same day in an art museum showing aboriginal art.  The art from the natives in Australia was so nice especially since most of the pieces were describing their history and culture.

These photos are at Hosier lane, famous graffiti spot in the city.  There are specific spots in the city like these alleys where graffiti is accepted and even wanted.

One Sunday, my host family took me up to the country to visit their grandmother, who rescued a joey whose mother had died in an accident.  I got to pet it and feed it.  It was incredible, and it was a once in a lifetime opportunity according to Jackson because kangaroos are wild animals, so nobody gets close to them.

This photo is of me and my host Jackson at the tallest building in Melbourne

This animal is a type of Australian opossum.  The animals there were crazy.

These two pictures were taking at the Healesville Sanctuary.  The koalas were one of my favorite animals I saw down under.  The snake is a brown snake, which is the second most poisonous snake in the world.  The trip to Healesville was one of the best days on the exchange. 

 One weekend, Jackson's parents were nice enough to take me to Sydney.  It was great to see another significant city in Australia.  I feel very fortunate to have been able to see another great area.

In conclusion, I want to thank Jackson and the Lees family for accepting me into their family and making me feel at home for a month.  I made so many great friends at the school.  Every student and teacher there were so hospitable.  I believe I made some life long friends that I will keep in contact with.  This last picture was of my economics class, which, lead by Mr. H, was probably my favorite class.  These are some good guys.  Last but not least, I want to sincerely thank the Whitson family for sponsoring my exchange.  I cannot thank you enough.  I had the time of my life, and I will remember this experience forever.  It was such a special trip, and without you, I couldn't have done it.

Brian Thomas's Post

After a 24 hour journey from Nashville, three young jet lagged Americans emerged from plane in the wonderful coastal city of Melbourne, Australia. I was greeted by Rob Cameron who was to be my temporary host until my official host returned from America. On the first day we took a tram into the city and visited famous sites such as the Shrine of Remembrance and Federation Square.

The next day Rob and I went down the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) to see a Footie, or Australian Rules Football, match. However this game was deemed "Mediocre Footie" as both teams were near the bottom of the tables. 

On Monday Melbourne Grammar resumed classes after their winter break. Adorned in a wool blazer and dress pants, Rob and I boarded a tram towards the city. Upon arriving at the campus I was amazed by the beauty of the bluestone buildings.

 

At the front gates of the school, I met up with Jack Reineke and his host Ted. I was to go to classes with them as Rob was a year 12. Although I had already finished my Junior Year at MBA, I was still wearing the blue striped shirt of an underclassman.

Later on during this first week, I received news that my official host, Theo, would not be able to host me. Thus I would be sent to the boarding house. This ended up being a huge blessing. I was able to sleep in, meet tons of new and interesting people from all over Australia, and get free food from the Dining Hall.

As I started finding interesting classes like Physics, Economics, Media, Specialists Math, and a second Physics class, I started to enjoy the classes more and more. 

My physics teacher Mr. Anastasiou became a great friend and introduced me to a great service project, tutoring young children, which I took part in every Monday after school for the remainder of my stay. 

One day we went with all of the Chinese, Japanese, and French exchange students to a zoo out in the country. We saw kangaroos, dingoes, koalas, and platypuses. However, the coolest animals by far were the Pelicans. We were allowed to enter the enclosure with them and nearly got bitten. But I am still amazed by how interesting these huge birds were.

 

As the days past by I started to immerse myself in one of Melbourne Grammar"s traditions, the House System. The school is divided into a dozen or so groups of boys who do different activities together. My house, School House, was one of the two different houses in the boarding house. We would have meetings every night after dinner, and go out to eat once a week.

The house activities culminated on the last Thursday of our time in Melbourne. There was a race known as the House Cross Country around the nearby Tan (Royal Botanical Gardens). In this race all the boys would run for their houses around the two and a half mile track. I finished behind both Joe and Jack, the other Americans, however I was still around the midpoint for all of the year elevens.

Overall this trip was fantastic and I would recommend it to any rising senior. The people at Melbourne Grammar are delightful and Australia itself is beautiful. I would like to thank the Whitson family for allowing me to have this unforgettable experience and meet great friends.

Jack Reineke's Post

This summer, I was fortunate enough to receive a grant to travel to Melbourne, Australia and attend the prestigious Melbourne Grammar School for a month. I was nervous to leave my family and home for a month and live in an unknown city but my host family welcomed me into their home and immediately made me a part of their family. The Hibbard family was a great fit for me and made me feel more than comfortable during my trip. On the first weekend there, we went to look around the city. We saw Federation Square and visited some of the cool arcades around the city.

That Monday, I got to go to my first day at my new school and found that it was very similar to MBA. It is a beautiful campus and I enjoyed visiting it for the month I was there.

That weekend I was allowed to go to an Australian League Football (footy for short) match with the other MBA exchange students and hosts. It was a great game and we got to experience real Australian meat pies at half time. 

This was the amazing view of the city as we walked over the bridge to the footy stadium.

That next Saturday, the Hibbards took me to a beautiful tourist spot about an hour and a half from Melbourne. This first two pictures were of a spot called Loch Gorge and was the sight of a ship wreck in 1878 where only two people survived. The third picture was of a spot  called the twelve apostles and is a beautiful tourist attraction where you can actually see penguins coming back onto the beach at dusk. 

One of my favorite moments of my trip was visiting the Healesville Sanctuary. It was really cool to see all kinds of animals that I had never seen before, even in a zoo. We saw echidnas, koalas, kangaroos, dingos, tazmanian devils, and got extremely close to some pelicans. 

I am extremely thankful to Mr. Gioia, The Whitson family, Mrs. Scholer, and everyone at MBA that made it possible for me to enjoy this great experience. It was an amazing experience and one that I will remember for the rest of my life.