SUSANNA - 16 years Switzerland

Hi everybody! I`m Susanna from Switzerland and I have to write a report about my stay in Australia but I just don`t know where to begin. So many things have happened since I`m here in Australia, my stay was a big experience. Learning English was just a good minor matter next to living here.

When I was sitting in the airplane to Sydney I was so exited because I had no idea what will be expected of me in down under. Now I know that it was an experience of my life. I learned to live with the Aussie culture and what this easy going means, which is so famous for Australia. It was so great but it was not always simple. I had to look for myself, to bear my own responsibility, to make decisions and also to adopt me at this new life.

But my host family, CEA and my new friends supported and helped me always.
They were all together so nice. And I very enjoyed it. It was like a big holiday even though I had to go to school, which is very different to Switzerland. They don't take it that serious and the teachers are more relaxed.

In my free time I went a lot to the City and to Manly. The City is so big and
Beautiful and the skyscrapers were amazing to me. At Manly beach I learned
to surf in the huge waves (had to swallow a lot of saltwater) which was so much
fun. Sometimes I went shopping in big shopping centres or went out with
my friends.

During my stay I had the great opportunity to go on a Safari tour with CEA. I travelled with about 60 other exchange students 10000km in 3 1/2 weeks through Australia. I made lots of friends from the whole world and it was so great, just awesome.

My stay is almost over and I will go back to my normal life. But I will never forget this half year in Australia, how much fun I had and all the people I met. Thank you all so much, who made it possible for me.

Susanna

Swiss German Translation
Hallo! Ich bin die Susanna aus der Schweitz und sollte einen Artikel ueber meinen Aufenthalt in Australien schreiben, aber ich weis einfach nicht wo anzufangen. Mein Aufenthalt war ein riesiges Erlebnis und so viel neues passierte seit ich hier bin. Englisch lernen war nur ein ganz kleiner Teil, neben hier zu leben.

Als ich alleine im Flugzeug sass, war ich so aufgeregt, weil ich hatte keine Ahnung, was mich im Down Under alles erwarten wird. Jetzt weis ich das es eine Erfahrung fuers leben war. Ich lernte mit der Aussie cultur zu leben und was mit dem easy going gemeint ist, fuer welches Australien so bekannt ist. Es war einfach mega schoen. Aber es war nicht immer einfach. Ich musste auf mich selber aufpassen, die eigene Verantwortung tragen, entscheidungen treffen und ich musste mich auch an das neue Leben anpassen. Aber meine Gastfamilie, CEA und meine neue Freunde halfen und unterstuetzten mich damit. Alle waren sehr nett zu mir und ich konnte mein halbes Jahr einfach nur sehr geniessen. Es war wie riesige Ferien, obwohl ich zur Schule gehen musste, welche recht anderst ist zu meiner vorigen. Sie nehmen es hier nicht so ernst und die Lehrer sind viel lockerer. In meiner Freizeit ging ich viel nach Manly und in die Stadt, Sydney.

Sydney ist sehr gross und wunderschoen. Es gibt da riesige Einkaufscenter und es ist einfach gemuetlich. Am Manly beach lernte ich surfen, (musste sehr viel Salzwasser schlucken) aber es war super gut. Ansonsten verabredete ich mich mit Freunden und besuchte neue Orte. Ich hatte auch die grossartige Moeglichkeit mit CEA auf eine Safari Tour zu gehen. Ich reiste mit etwa 60 anderen Austauschschueler 10000 km durch halb Australien. Es war mega schoen und lustig und ich lernte Leute aus der ganzen Welt kennen.

Mein Aufenthalt nimmt langsam ein Ende und ich werde zu meinem normalen Leben zurueckckehren. Aber ich werde dieses halbe Jahr, alle neue Leute und wie viel spass ich hatte nie vergessen. Danke allen so viel mal, die dies moeglich machten.

Susanna (man verlernt das Hochdeutsch leider ein bisschen!)

Alexandra - Zurich Switzerland

Hi, I’m Alexandra and I just had my best 5 months ever.

I’m 16 and come from Zurich, a beautiful town in Switzerland. I live there in a village on the lake not far from the city of Zurich. But in Australia, I lived in a totally different environment pretty near to the sea and all the beaches. Being here felt like holiday even though I went to school. It took me quiet a long time to get used to the school here and to like it, because it is just so different and new to me. I was not used to wear a uniform or to be only with girls. 600 girls around me every day seemed pretty strange. But, after a while, I just thought, why not? I found new friends there, who showed me around and everyone was friendly and helped me wherever they could. I definitely never felt lonely and that is an important thing, because if you begin to feel lonely, you’ll get homesick and you can’t really enjoy your exchange year. But while I was here, I did not even have the time to get homesick, because the time was flying and there was not much left to think about home.

The most important thing to prevent getting homesick is a good host-family, who helps you to get into the real Aussi life. I was really lucky with my host-family, CEA there did a great job by finding them for me. I got along very well with them and that made my stay even more enjoyable. In Switzerland, I don’t have any siblings, but here, I had two host-sisters 9 and 11 years old. It was not always easy for me because I’m just not used to two girls always living around me, but exactly this was a challenge to live with another family and fit in it.

Already when I was in year 8, I knew that I will go to another country as an exchange student and Australia was always my first choice.

Not only because I have family down here, but also because Australia is one of the most interesting and most beautiful countries. It’s actually a whole continent and so, wherever you go, you’ll see something new, special and mostly even unique (and often even poisonous).

I loved going on safari with all the other exchange students. We travelled through Australia and we’ve seen places such as Cairns, Ayers Rock, Alice Springs or Melbourne.

That was just an awesome experience. I met many new friends that I’m still in touch with and we are planning to catch up in Europe all together.
But not only the safari was a great part of my five months in down under, also just to be in Australia and live like an Aussi, was a good experience.

You don’t only learn the language, you also learn a lot about a totally new culture and another way of living. The “easy-going”- way of living.

When you go to the beach, surfers are in the ocean and people are getting tanned while lying in the sand. Even if you are not on holiday, you automatically feel like you would and become more relaxed. Since I started my exchange year here, I realized that I’m way more relaxed here than at home in Switzerland where I always had something to do. It’s a great break from the stressful life back home.

I did my diving license here and I’ve seen beautiful and often a bit scary things. The ocean is great and all the reefs there are wonderful. I even swam with sharks!

Every weekend, I could choose between lots of different things. I could go to the beach, to the city, to Manly or just hang around and do nothing. There is just so much to do that you almost never choose to just hang around at home. I personally love the city of Sydney. It’s very busy and tiring but on the other side just fantastic. There are so many different parts of the city and you can find everything you like and if you stand in front of the opera house and see the harbour bridge, it looks just so much better than on all the postcards. If you are used to a city like Zurich, you would see Sydney rather as a whole country than a city. It’s huge.

Now, when I look back, I almost regret that I did not stay for the whole year. After about three and a half month, I began to realize that my time here is almost over. I planned so many things and could not even do most of them.

So, I really have to come back to Australia. I already look forward to my next visit, hopefully not too far away..!

Ben – 17 Years – Canada  Jan – July

My name is Ben Manley and I'm a Canadian exchange student. If you are thinking about coming on exchange here in Australia, then think no more …………CEA was the best !  I wrote to them and CEA contact me and also rang my parents and explained the whole program and now I am here.
I've just had the greatest 6 months of my life out here. My host family is great, my friends that I've made here are great, everything has just worked out.

Adair – 17 Years Nevada USA July – Dec

My name is Adair and I am 17 years old.  I am an only child and enjoy snowboarding.  I live in Carson City, Nevada, USA and I chose to come to Australia as my exchange country.  It was difficult to choose a company with who to come with to Australia, we spoke to a few, had unpleasant experiences with various companies, but then I found CEA and my Mom and I rang them and spoke with them and we felt very comfortable and sure that they would be here for me when I arrived and offered great support and assistance before I came and while I was here in Australia and they did!

About 9 months ago I never could of imagined being in Sydney, Australia and I now know that this is the best choice I have ever made.  When first arriving in Australia, I was a little nervous about my living with my host family for the next six months and also about going to school and meeting new friends. Immediately I began to feel welcome in the home and from then on, I knew that this was going to be a great family to be with. I had one host sister named Margaux, who was nine, and one host brother named Enzo, who was two and wonderful caring host parents.   I enjoyed having younger host siblings because I felt like the older sister and I have never had that before.   Although they were French -  Australian, I still am sure I got the feel of the Australian culture and the nationality differences didn’t change a thing.  I even got to learn a little French in the process!  I could not have asked for a better host family! My host mom is a fantastic cook and I talked to her all the time about everything.

Frenchs Forest High School in Sydney, Australia was a wonderful school to go to.  I have more kids in one year in the USA, then I do at this school, so it was a completely different feel.  This was a very good thing because I got to experience a closer bond with all of the other kids there.  All of my other peers and teachers did all they could to make me feel welcome at their school.  I made a lot of friends at this school and through them I met many other friends from other schools.  My friends were the highlight of my trip and I sure will miss them, but sure to keep in contact for if they ever come to America.

I had the chance to go the CEA safari with many other exchange students around Australia.  This was probably the best time I had in Australia!  I was able to climb Ayer’s Rock, go scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef, and see all of the Gold Coast of Australia!  I have seen more of Australia than most Australians and feel very fortunate to of experienced such a great trip!  I made friends throughout the world and learned many different cultures. 

Australia was more than I could have ever imagined and more!  I am sure this has been a life changing experience that I will remember and cherish forever. Thank you CEA for making all of this possible!

Thank you

Laura –16 years -  Switzerland Jan-July

My name is Laura and I was a Swiss exchange student from January to July 2004. I decided to go to Australia for six months in October 2003, so I was really late and kind of scared I wouldn’t get in. But I desperately wanted to get away from home and to experience something new! Luckily everything turned out alright and I got into the CEA program without any trouble. Because I was so eager to leave home, I wasn’t as apprehensive as I probably ought to have been. I was just looking forward to coming over, trusting the family would be fine and that I could always change if there was a major problem (which there wasn’t). Saying goodbye went off without a hitch too, I only wanted my family at the airport, so they wished me a good time – and I was off. Even on the plane I wasn’t feeling nervous about meeting my host family, only as I was waiting in line for passport control Sydney, did I start to wonder what they would truly look like.

The whole family was waiting for me at the airport. They probably spotted my friend and me at once; there weren’t that many girls wandering around Sydney airport looking kind of lost. They instantly welcomed me into their family, my host mum, dad and sister all giving me a hug and my host brother, who was too shy, just shook my hand. Everyone laughed and it broke the tension immediately. We arrived at around 9pm and as there was the Sydney festival going on that night, my host family decided to take me around Sydney and show me all the lights before going home at midnight. My stay had started with a late night out and promised a lot more fun to come!

My host brother Peter, my host  mother Vicki  and me sailing
The first day of school was very entertaining; all the kids were so eager to know all about Switzerland, it was quite hard to answer all the questions, not least of all because they had no idea where Switzerland was, let alone what the adjective is (I got all kinds of strange words like Switzish, Switzerlandish thrown at me). After two weeks of school however, I was certain that I wanted to change classes, as I had covered most of what they were learning in year 11. This was no problem at all, and all the teachers and year coordinators were most helpful and understanding. Year 12 also immediately included me into their group. They already had two other exchange students in that year, plus experience with about 5 others the previous year and were quite accustomed to integrating us and making us feel part of the school.

Outside of school I took part in various church activities my host family introduced me to, like youth group and bible study. Even if you are not a religious person (I do not have any affiliation what so ever, but am very interested in what attracts people to religion), I highly recommend this to you. Church is where I made my very best friends and where I think I had most fun. Scouts was also exciting and a great place to make new friends, but it was sometimes a bit expensive, so I couldn’t always take part in their activities. But I still propose you try these things out, as they really help you get over any kind of regrets you might have in leaving your friends at home. These activities also enabled me to see a bit of the Australian country side, the beautiful beaches, animal and the fascinating nature of Australia.

The second term of school was really exhausting for me, as I did not have much time to recover from my fantastic holiday and the teachers were bombarding us with assignments and assessment tasks. So time passed really quickly, and before I knew it, I was counting my last Youth Group, my last Bible Study, my last this and last that, but this exchange has taught me so much about Australian schooling and social life in general, I am really glad I did it, even though some parts seemed difficult and annoying at the time.
Now that my days here in Australia are drawing to a close, it is getting more and more fun, as everyone is organising goodbye parties and you really feel special. In my last too weeks here, I only have a single evening, when I have not organised anything yet! Time will seem so boring when I go back to Switzerland! But I am looking forward to going back home; meeting all of my friends, getting on with school and recovering from my unforgettable six months.

Jennifer,

First and foremost, I didn't expect I would have such a great time as I did.  I knew it was  going to be a life changing experience but I never could have imagined how good it was! I just wanted to thank you for everything!  Whenever I had a problem you were there tohelp me and you always made sure I was happy and OK.  Even when my bed was a little bit hard, you gave me a mattress.

I have heard many different stories about area reps and I feel grateful to of had such a  wonderful coordinator. I know my mom could trust you and I knew I could too.  I am going to tell all my friends about CEA and how I  had such a good time!
Thank you for the farewell dinner and thanks for everything,   Jennifer.

Best wishes
Adair and Denise Nowacki

Edwin – 17 years from Germany

Photos from the CEA Safari with Ayers Rock in the back ground….wow…….

To all the brave students who decide to go to a foreign country and to all of you who declared to be prepared for solving problems on your own, organizing your daily life on your own (which can sometimes be harder than you might think) and to those feeling lonely from time to time.

G’day mate. My name is Edwin and I am a German 17 year old student and decided in spring  to spend half a year in Sydney, right on the other side of the world!

From my experiences in Australia from July till December, I can honestly recommend this step, which will influence your lives intensively, in a positive way as you already might have been told by many people around you.

A few months prior to my departure from home to the great open world, I kept thinking that leaving home will be the hardest and coming home the long-awaited and best feeling. But actually it turned out to be the other way around. Being at the airport and the sad feeling of having to say goodbye to my family, girlfriend and best friends for the long time of six months was dominated by the happy and adventurous emotions. And now as I am approaching the last moments of my stay in Sydney I feel as if I am just getting into the Australian way of life and fitting into this new home. However, I believe that half a year is an appropriate period of time to improve a language and, certainly, mature as a person.

I was welcomed in Australia with more than open arms. With a lovely, caring host family right from the start I settled quickly into the completely new environment and started to develop a routine to make as much as ever possible out of the time abroad – although that was a bit hard. Sydney is such a fascinating and entertaining place that you will barely ever stop sightseeing and discovering new corners; a city full of lights, life and beauty.

Going to school worked just as well from the start. Of course, you have to get used to this totally different way of schooling but teachers as well as many students are very helpful, open and keen to support you to make your stay as nice as possible. I made some really good friendships with my mates and my teachers.

I was really surprised by all these students from all different years ranging from 7 to 12 approaching me and asking hundreds of questions about my country and my stay in Sydney (the most commonly asked question will certainly be “Do you like Australia?”).

Although I felt like having been introduced to half the school already just during lunch break chats, I once was officially on stage at the weekly assembly to make “everybody aware of having guests from overseas”. I actually played the piano which was a bit easier for me and turned into a success.

Another reason why you blend with society in Sydney that quickly is its multiculturalism. You have so many people from all over the world living in Sydney that you will hear people speaking in your language almost every day. Also a unique experience making life easier for exchange students.

A true highlight of my stay was the safari, the best camping trip ever. We saw so many places you always dream of to see like Ayer’s Rock, the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsunday Islands and many more. We had wonderful tour leaders, funny and helpful, and soon a great community among all these exchange students from all over Australia and all over the world respectively. A gorgeous memory!

Of course not everything was that easy. There were times when I was very sad and felt lonely and homesick but I always had somebody or something that cheered me up soon after and made me stronger, CEA and my coordinator Jennifer  was great and always there for me, I  look forward and concentrate on enjoying the great life again.

After approximately two months some problems between my host family and me were emerging and finally made me decide on moving to another host family. This is one of the biggest fears of exchange students I believe,  to not fit into their host family. However, this is only natural and happens occasionally as it did to me. No reason for despair, CEA was there for me when I needed them in this moment, guided me and solved the situation spontaneously and without a great fuss.   (And you will have more luck with your second host family as you already have experience in choosing and determining what’s important for you, what do I need around me…)

So there is not really much to worry about. The main thing is to be open for the new, be adaptable to circumstances that are different to what it has always been like in your life, and you might find the new eventually to be better than the usual…

Have a wonderful, impressing, enjoyable, teaching and everything changing time in Sydney. The best people, the best place, and the best time for you to come: perfect!

With the best wishes for you and in memory of the adventure of a lifetime,Edwin

Jess – from Switzerland

Hey!
I’m Jess and I’d decided to spend the year in Australia in order to improve my English and to spend some time on the other side of the world (as travelling is one of my many passions)!

Back in Switzerland, I looked at all the offers for different exchange programmes and decided I was going to do the Sydney programme with Swiss Partner and Campus Education Australia CEA . It seemed like the best option, having school fees and all that comes with it included and first of all getting very supportive assistance from Campus Education Australia, in Sydney.

I hadn’t realised what I was doing for a very long time, saying goodbye to my friends and family back home wasn’t really hard at all! I was just so excited, couldn’t wait to start my adventure in Australia! Once I was on the plane, nervousness started to kick in and all those questions were twirling around in my head (“What am I doing, going to a country I’ve never been to before, staying with people I didn’t know and first of all, not knowing anyone at all!”) But I felt at home very soon after I’d arrived! My hostfamily was just lovely! They showed me around in Manly, the city, we had barbecues at Clontarf, etc.

Then, my first day of school…HORROR! I hated my school so much in the beginning! No one had told me anything about what was going on…Ok, I asked people, etc. but there were so many things I wasn’t used to (“roll call?” what was that, we don’t have that in Switzerland) I was really disappointed, having seen how exchange students were treated at my school at home, being welcomed by the principal, being showed around,etc.
There I was, at Forest High, trying to find my way around there… But you get used to everything and it’s not for the rest of your life, so accept it and make the best out of it!

I joined a local soccer team (the Seaforth U18s Ladies) so I had training twice a week and a game on Sundays when the season had started. Our coach was only 24 and the other girls were my age or older and went to different schools… Our trainings were always a lot of fun and I always looked forward to them! We really became a team and when the season was over (we came third) everyone was sad!

I’m still in contact with them and do things with some of them!

Other than soccer, I went to the gym (kickboxing classes, yoga and pilates were some of the classes I enjoyed most). And I also tried a lot of other things as well, like Capoeira, swimming, touch football, Beach Volleyball course, etc. I really used the time here to try stuff I didn’t have the possibility or I just was too busy with other things at home to do it.

My friends took my to some Rugby league games of the Sydney Rooster’s, turning me into a real fan… I went to the Cirque du Soleil, the Maroon 5 concert, and the JET concert…

With CEA, we got together about once or twice a term, to catch up, look at photos and tell each other stories! We went Ten Pin Bowling, having pizza, going to Pancakes on the Rocks, etc. I could always rely on the support of CEA!   My area rep would check on me regularly, asking me how I was going, etc. and if there was any trouble, it was sure that I could meet her within the same week!

When it was time to say goodbye at Sydney airport, everyone was crying, hugging each other…We got so close in those 24 days! I’ll meet some of them again and I talk to others (that live further away from my place) on msn or email!

Other travelling that I did was with my first hostfamily…My hostmum, my host sister and me went to Canberra for two days and then drove to “Blackheath” in the Blue Mountains where we met up with my hostdad. They knew people that have a house there so we rented it off them, staying there for one week. It was such a great time, we did a lot of bushwalking along the cliffs (amazing views!!!), etc.

Then, I changed host family in July…(not because I was unhappy, but it’s a good experience to stay with two different host families, getting to know more people and different Australian lifestyles)…I still meet my last host family sometimes (they invite me for dinner) and they took me to a “chilli festival” because they know I love HOT food and chillies!

One thing I was able to do after a couple of weeks was scuba diving! I did my Open Water Course at the Dive Centre in Manly…The people were great and so relaxed, we had a lot of fun together! Then I was thrilled by it, continuing with Boat Dives and the Advanced Open Water course! Going deep diving, wreck diving and night diving were some of the highlight and, of course, seeing Port Jackson and wobbegong sharks, is not an everyday thing in Switzerland! It is so addictive and I will miss it soooo much back home!

Okay, yeah, of course I’m looking forward to catching up with my friends at home, but I know that I’ll miss so many people and things I got to know here in Australia! And I will always look back with a smile on my face!

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me – just ask CEA for the address

See ya

Jess

Katrin  Germany  16 years Jan – July 2003

Hi from Sydney Australia !!!!!

My name is Katrin I am 16 years and live in Germany and I decided to live in Australia for 6 month first of all to improve my English and to get to know another country. But I also thought that this is a great opportunity to become more independent, to grow up and to learn to deal with complicated situations. That’s why I finally arrived in January 18th for an experience I will never forget.

I chose Campus Education Australia CEA because I got a personal response when I asked for   information last year via the email.  CEA then directed me to one of their local agents in Germany  and I  made contact with them which was great and I then went and had an interview and spoke with them with my parents. Having this available in my country is really good as it helped my parents and they could ask all the questions to the Germany Representative.   We had a great orientation before leaving and prepared me for my new experience down under.    It was very late when I decided to come to Australia  and the good thing was that they accepted my application and they got everything organized for me so quickly
This was not available with many other organizations. This personal relationship is something really important considering that I fully trusted them in organizing half a year in another country - Sydney for me.

During my exchange I met with my CEA Representative in the first few days of arriving and we went over a number of things. She helped me in areas I needed help with, gave me some great advice and we got together and had dinners together with other exchange students in the group and talked about our experiences – this was great.   My representative emailed me and rang to check in on me and she really supported me and helped me with feeling less homesick. But even though I had somebody to support me I felt lonely and terribly homesick sometimes.  But now as time goes past, I am really happy and feel really part of a new culture and life.

My host family , mother, father, two host sisters 17 years and 23 years and a hostbrother (14), are really kind, interested in my culture and I enjoyed living there even though I had to get used to their different lifestyle and habits. They took me to many beautiful places around the Northern Beaches, to Canberra and the Central Coast. But more important than that, they always helped and supported me. Especially my hostmother became a person I could talk to when I felt lonely or homesick. In my opinion a good relationship to your hostfamily makes everything much easier and more enjoyable.

School was a kind of challenge for me. Not that we did anything difficult in class but the whole system is completely different and the students have another attitude and ‘work’ differently. So it was hard to get fully into it. Therefore you have to be very sensitive and patient. But I finally I made really good friends I hope I will keep in touch with.

Everyday Life  was great,  I used to deliver the newspapers with my hostfamily in the morning I got up quite early. We then had breakfast altogether and I got ready for school.  I walked down to school. On my way I met friends and it took us about 25 minutes to get down to Narrabeen Sports High School. School starts with Roll Call  (on Mondays and Fridays followed by an assembly). A school day consists of 5 period, which take about an hour depending on day and period. After school I used to go to the beach (10min walk from school) with friends for a swim or just to relax at the beach. In winter we used to go to the square (5-min walk from school) for a soft drink ore some shopping. During the first term I used to go dancing next to my school once a week.

On the weekends I liked to go to the city which takes, depending on the traffic, about 40-min. From the first moment I saw Sydney I just loved it. There is so much to do and it has two beautiful harbors. Even though the city is quite big you can reach everything in walking and experience this multicultural society which is really interesting. But not just the city is a facility to have fun and get to know this area but all the Northern Beaches and Bays around the city are worth it to go there.

On Sundays I used to go to church with my hostfamily. I first though it would be boring because I’m not really religious but I found good friends at Narrabeen Baptist Church and I went to Youth Group every Friday night where we met to do stuff like bowling or just to hang out together.

CEA has a great Safari and  I went on,  it was the best time I had here in Australia. We had a group of 65 exchange students from 15 different countries, travelled through the Australian desert, climbed Ayres Rock and Kings Canyon, sleep underground, went diving and snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef, enjoyed beautiful days on Great Keppel Islands, the Whitsunday Islands and Surfers Paradise and got to know so many interesting people. By the end everybody was crying. I’m still in touch with most of them and I’m going to visit some of them very soon.

Not just that I’ve seen more of Australia than most Australians have but I also learned a lot about this huge continent and made so many good friends. This was an adventure I would describe as awesome, amazing and fabulous.

I often asked myself the question of what an exchange is all about and what I can expect and honestly I still don’t have an answer. But I know that I’m not afraid of meeting other people or other cultures any more, I’m independent, grown up and had and exciting and interesting time with many memories which I will keep in mind forever. It is not always easy and homesickness made it pretty hard for me sometimes but you have to put an effort in everything especially in relationships to get something back and to enjoy yourself.

Now, when I nearly finished my exchange, I can say I’m proud of myself and happy do made the decision to actually go to Australia!

See ya  Katrin.

Julian 17 Years from Germany  - 6 months

G day,

My name is Julian and I am a 17 years old exchange student from Germany.

I decided to come to Australia for 6 months and that time was the best time of my life.

I arrived in Sydney in February, the whole flight I couldn’t sleep because I was that nervous, but when I met my host family and had dinner with them I could already see that I will feel comfortable living with such a nice family.

They also helped me on my first school day, when I was pretty nervous. My brother introduced me to his friends and they are still pretty close friends of mine. After I got to know my grade in school, I started looking for afternoon activities. I signed in for soccer, which I played already in Germany.

Through my new friends in school I tried to play Rugby and it is an amazing sport and I still play it. I also started going to gym which I will continue when I come back to Germany and I loved going to the beach which are not comparable to the beaches in Germany. By feeling comfortable in the new country the time started running.

After 3 months I went to the CEA safari, which was great. You see so many things you wouldn’t have seen with out going on safari and you also become friends with other students in your age from other countries. Now another 2 months are over and I am still in contact with my friends from safari.

I have only 3 weeks left and mixed feelings on the one hand I am upset because I will miss all my friends, the school, my family and Rugby, but on the other hand I am glad that I have chosen to come to Australia and the experience that I had will I still remember for my whole life.

I am already planning to come back for holidays and visit my friends and my family.

Christy 17 years from USA -  Jan – July

My trip Down under, Sydney Australia withCampus Education Australia (CEA)

Making the decision to leave home for six months was one of the most difficult, but also most rewarding, decisions I have ever made. When I first arrived in Sydney, all I could think was, "What am I doing here?!". It was a scary feeling. However, by the end of my first day with my host family, I felt like I was practically part of the family. They were very welcoming and helpful, always being there when I needed them, but also giving me space when I needed some privacy. It was great having the support and guidance of CEA, who organized everything in Sydney. 

I read once that "Family isn’t about whose blood you have. It’s about who you care about." My wonderful host family helped me realize how true that really is. For the past five months, they have been like my real family and I know it will be unbelievably difficult to say goodbye to them in only a few weeks.
Just as important to me are the amazing friendships I have made here. I have to admit that my first day at a new school in a new country was one of the most frightening situations I have ever been in. However, the kids at my school were so friendly and welcoming, I felt at home almost straight away. Between the many footy games, shopping trips, and movie nights, I have developed lasting friendships with some of the girls from my school that I know will continue long after I return home.

Living in the northern beaches was one of the best decisions I made regarding my stay in Australia. It is such a beautiful and exciting place to live. There’s truly nothing like it. I have seen many remarkable areas of Australia since I’ve been here, but it was always nice to come home to the beauty of this place. The northern beaches are home to some of the best beaches in the country, and many of them are easily accessible by a 5-20 minute bus ride.     Because I come from the heartland of America, being so close to the beach was really amazing – this is why my parents chose to go with CEA because they could confirm that the school and host family would be personally chosen and also in heart of the Northern beaches and in Sydney – close to everything and found them very efficient and professional.

For me, six months was the perfect amount of time. I have enjoyed myself so much that I know I could stay a lot longer, but I am also glad to know that I haven’t been away so long that my life will be hard to slip back into at home. Missing my family was honestly really difficult sometimes, but the good times always outweighed the hard ones. The past five months have been some of the most exciting of my life, and I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world.

If I could give newcomers a few words of advice, it would be this:

1. Don’t be shy! The other kids at your new school will be as scared to talk to you as you are of them. Go ahead and make the first move. The friendships you make will be worth those few moments of nervousness.

2. Six months or one year will seem like a long time when you first arrive, but in reality your weekends are very limited. Do as much as you can as early as possible. Get the touristy outings out of the way so that you’re not trying to squeeze in trips to the Opera House and Harbour Bridge right at the end. Before you know it, your time will be filled with friends and school, so do it while you can. You won’t regret it.

3. Go on the safari. I know that a month is a really long time to be living out of a suitcase and sleeping in a tent, but the unforgettable experiences you have will far outweigh the minimal discomforts – thanks to  CEA for organizing such an amazing trip all of us……….

4. Be absolutely completely open to new or unconventional ideas and people. You will be surprised by how much you will go through culture shock. Different cultures value different things so don’t be surprised if your host family only gets five television channels or only owns one car even though they have five drivers. Embrace the differences and definitely don’t be condescending. You are here to learn, not to preach.

5. Most importantly, enjoy yourself. Don’t let your trip be hampered by stress and worries. Live the true aussie way... no worries, mate. No worries.

Carrie, 16 years - Washington USA

My trip to Australia !

Campus Education Australia CEA has been absolutely terrific in getting everything together for me while I was in the US and at such short notice. My Mom and Dad felt very comfortable and confident with the thorough way CEA organised everything for me to study the land downunder in Sydney Australia that I was packed and ready to go before I knew it I was here! Now I would like to share my story with you.

Before my trip to Australia, I had never been away from home longer than 21 days. So coming across the world by myself for 9 weeks was something that I had never prepared to do. However, I am so happy that I ignored the doubts I was having, because otherwise I would have missed out on the best experience of my life. During my stay in Australia, I have lived a completely different lifestyle, allowing me to become much more independent and arousing a certain curiosity in me to try new things

For the first time in my life, I got to wear a uniform to school. I had a really great time at Davidson High school, the teachers we very nice and assisted me with all my subjects I needed to take while here in Australia I made friends with many Australian kids, we went shopping, to the movies and lots of fun exchanging cultural differences and felt included instantly.

I learnt to take public transportation everywhere instead of just driving myself. I went around to several of the Northern Beaches and got to see how beautiful and unique each of them are. I felt on top of the world when I climbed the Harbor Bridge and saw a 360 degree view of the entire city of Sydney, including the Opera House. I went to an Aboriginal Art Gallery and learned of their exceptional and fascinating culture through bark paintings and animal wood carvings. I took a ferry from Manly into the city and saw the beautiful skyline of the city from the water. I went to the Blue Mountains and saw the Three Sisters standing tall at Echo Point. All of these things I experienced and took interest in, I would have never had the opportunity to do back home.

Amongst all of these wonderful experiences, I stayed with such a kind and loving host family that made my stay in Australia so much more amazing. I had a great host brother who was 15 and a really nice host sister 13 years and my host Mum is just like my Mom back home. They included me in everything, without their friendly welcoming, I would not have made it through my trip. They made me feel like I was a part of their family and I was not missing out on anything back in America because this was my home away from home. With my time in Australia coming to an end, I know that I will return home with lifelong friendships, beautiful photos, and most importantly unforgettable memories.

Campus has been really great and helped me get everything together and they found the best host family ever and they were there for me when I needed them!

Jake – 16 yrs Germany

I spent one year in Australia, the first six months in Melbourne, where things didn't seem to work out right for me. But once we had contacted CEA in Sydney they quickly and flexibly arranged for a transference to Sydney, taking care of all the paperwork, and I really got to enjoy the other half of my stay down under. They found an excellent host family, the perfect school and were always there whenever any questions arised.

These conditions enabled me to really get up to stuff, and with my friends from school we always do something on the weekends, be it going to the beach, the movies, walking around the CDB or spending six hours in a laser arena. During the holidays my brother and I went on a cycle tour from Sydney to Brisbane, so we really got to see the country.

I can only recommend this program and to anyone about to participate in it I would advise to really try to do as many things as possible, as time flies and at the end of your stay you will look back, and regardless of how active you were, you will wish you had done more...

Jake (Juernjacob)

German Translations
Ich habe ein Jahr in Australien verbracht, davon die ersten sechs Monate in Melbourne, wo es aber irgendwie nicht so richtig klappen wollte. Aber nachdem wir Kontakt mit CEA aufgenommen hatten, organisierten sie schnell und flexibel meinen Umzug nach Sydney.

Sie kuemmerten sich um den ganzen Papierkram und die zweite Haelfte meines Aufenthaltes konnte ich wirklich geniessen. Sie fanden eine klasse Gastfamilie, eine tolle Schule und waren immer da falls Fragen aufkamen. Dank dieser Bedingungen konnte ich eine Menge unternehmen und mit meinen Schulfreunden
war jedes Wochenende etwas los, von Strandgaengen, Kinobesuchen ueber Stadtbummel bis hin zu sechsstuendigen Sessions in einer Laser Arena. In den Ferien unternahmen mein Bruder und ich eine Fahrradtour von Sydney nach Brisbane, wodurch wir das Land wirklich zu sehen bekamen.

Ich kann dieses Programm nur empfehlen und jedem der demnaechst daran teilnimmt wuerde ich raten, so viel wie moeglich zu unternehmen. Die Zeit verfliegt und am Ende des Aufenthaltes wird man zurueckblicken und sich wuenschen, egal wie aktiv man war, dass man noch mehr gemacht haette...

Lucas - 17 years from Vienna Austria

It was sometime in March 2001 when I decided to go for 6 months to Sydney and I had looked really forward to see this city and the country and of course to improve my English which wasn’t that good and besides that I just wanted to do something like that my entire live.

I think it s a huge step for a young person leaving home for 6 months and going on the other side of this planet to look what s going on there.

I arrived in Sydney on the 19 th of January and it was dam hot of course I love the heat but when you come from Austria out of the European winter into the Australian summer it is kind of a shock. I was tired after a horrible 22 hour flight I was tired confused but excited. After a nice long chat with the customs officers I finally caught up with my Hostfamily who met me at the airport and it nice to see them there waiting for me but it was just so weird to see them and maybe I was a little bit shocked.

Anyway we arrived in Killarney where they live and where my school is too I was just tired because of the time difference. I had about 2 weeks holiday before school started and I did some stuff with my host parents and my host brothers who were younger then me. I also met a friend from Vienna who was in Sydney at that time and I started my new hobby surfing at Manly beach – as my host family loved going to the beach and I also went with them. Then school began and I think I was pretty lucky that I decided to go to Killarney Heights High. There was this really nice girl there and she introduced me to everyone and helped me to choose my subjects which was absolutely new for me because in Austria you have every damn subject and here you can actually choose which subject you are interested in Jill just helped me to get used to everything not just this completely different school system.

I don t know why but it was pretty easy for me to get my new friends of course the first month you are sometimes a bit lonely but then I just took it easy you must not get depressed or start o have desperately thoughts about I have no friends over here what am I supposed to do? it just takes a while until you get used to everything and to really get known your friends and getting a part of their group in this time you just have to relax and try to make the best out of it , I went to the nice city a lot went to the movies bought some english books ,went to the beach surfing. but as I have said i was lucky with my friends and all the people in my school they just integrate me immediately and I got a new part of their group I wen to a party it was just getting more and more better all the time.

It was I think at the beginning of March when I changed my hostfamily as CEA always checked with me to see if I was OK and they helped with ensuring I was happy in my family and school the whole time I was here in Sydney. My parents felt relieved that I had support here and they could ring and speak to CEA if they needed. I m so glad that I did it. I moved to a lovely family where the host mother was Australian and the host father was Japanese and they were a lovely family in Roseville but I didn’t change schools

The family is just great they have 2 small kids Isai who is 5 and Mika who is 9,they also had 2 other exchange students Natsue from Japan and Alline from France and we just had a great time together. I was with Natsue and 5 of her Japanese friends on the mardi gras which was a heaps of fun.I got known other exchange students like Susanna who was also on our CEA program and she is from Switzerland and we are really good friends now and when we were bored we just went surfing or went to the city.

Then end of march I celebrated my 18th birthday with my friends and with my family and the great safari began It was a trip through half Australia through the desert mostly and we were about 60 students from all over the world. I think we were about 15 guys an the rest were girls which wasn’t that bad. We travelled with the bus everyday which wasn’t that good but suppose seeing Australia is so big it was the only way we were going to see it, slept in a tent every night and just had a great trip. Seriously it was one of my best time in my entire life.

After a month back in Sydney my examination week in school started which wasn’t that hard and my friendship to all the people in school increased and I got really close friends to some of them like ;Tim, Tom and Ian I went with these guys snowboarding in Thredbo which was very cool, Owen who lives close to me and Dillan.I can say Dillan is one of my best mates even compared to my mates back in Austria. but there were and are heaps of more people Japanese and Chinese friends, Jill, Lisa ,Holly, Laura, Christen and a lot of other girls in this time you are definitely enjoying your stay.

I have had a really great time as well and I could prove my independents which I got in Australia and I realized how this 6 months have changed me. It takes a while but after 4-5 months which is sadly nearly the end of my oz stay you don t feel like a stranger anymore you feel like you belong to there, I don t know how to say, but you just have heaps of friends and every weekend you are doing something, going to parties or in the city and all this stuff. you realize in this time that you don t have friends just back home but now you have real friends even in Australia.

You also will realize that you are actually not looking forward to go back and to leave you new life and your new people, but in some way your looking forward to go back to your old life which will have changed and to your old people who will have changed. You’ll be somewhere in between like I m now you don t want to go back and you know its time to go back, you don t really want to know how it will be back home but you know it s time to face it. but the main thing is you have changed in some way and you know you did something you really can be proud of it I’ll back home. I’ll be gone in 10 days thank you to my host family, my new friends my great school and CEA for the best time downunder

Lucas from Austria

Caroline 17 years – Innsbruck Austria

Already I’ve been here in Sydney for 5 months and there’s only one more month left – I can’t believe it, time has passed so quickly!! At the beginning 6 months seemed to be such a long time – everything was just so different to what I had expected and to what I was used to.

It was really hard to get used to the Australian school system. I wasn’t as happy with my first host family so after 2 months CEA helped me and placed me with a really great family . My new host family was the best thing I could have done. With my new host family I fitted in together much better and I felt very comfortable quickly. – I had a great host sister who is 20yr who had also been an exchange student when she was younger and she was really nice and my host mother was so kind and motherly.

My life here is very relaxed. I don’t really have to do much work for school and I live only about 10 minutes away from the beach. I just love to go for walks straight after school.

I also went on the CEA Safari Tour for about 3 weeks, which was a great experience. I got the chance to see Ayers Rock, the Barrier Reef and all the things you should have seen when you’re already in Australia.

Sydney is the most beautiful city I’ve ever been to and I’m sure I’ll come back one day!

Caroline

German translation:
Ich bin hier in Sydney schon seit 5 monaten und es ist nur noch 1 monat uebrig, ich kann’s kaum glauben – die zeit ist so schnell vergangen! 6 monate schienen am anfang so eine lange zeit zu sein, alles war ungewohnt und nicht so wie ich es mir erwartet hatte.

Es war schwer sich an das australische Schulsystem zu gewoehnen und ich hatte auch einige probleme mit meiner gastfamilie. Nach ca. 2 monaten CEA haben gastfamilie gewechselt und es war das beste was ich machen konnte!
Meine zweite gastfamilie und ich passten viel besser zusammen und ich fuehlte mich sehr schnell wohl.

Mein leben hier ist sehr entspannt. Ich muss nicht wirklich viel fuer die schule tun und ich wohne nur 10 minuten weg vom strand. Ich liebe es gleich nach der schule am strand spazieren zu gehen.

Ich bin auch 3 wochen auf einer CEA Safari Tour gewesen, was eine einzigartige erfahrung war. Ich habe Ayers Rock gesehen, das Barrier Reef und all die dinge die man einfach gesehen haben sollte wenn man schon mal in australien ist.
Sydney ist die schoneste stadt in der ich jemals war und ich bin mir sicher dass ich eines tages zurueckkommen werde!

Rafael - Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

"O tempo passou muito rápido pra mim na Austrália, não parece que passei 6 meses aqui, parece que cheguei aqui ontem. Primeiro, quando cheguei no aeroporto eu estava um pouco ansioso mas depois me encontrei com um representante da CEA e me senti bem melhor. Fui levado para minha host family e depois de algumas semanas eu não sabia porque eu tinha estado tão preucupado sobre o início. Minha host family me fez sentir muito bem vindo e eu começei a fazer amigos na escola e desde então eu não olhei pra trás e me diverti muito. Eu não posso acreditar que passei todo esse tempo aqui. Minha escola era legal e Sydney é uma citade bonita onde tem várias coisas para se ver e fazer, especialmente nas práias do norte onde surfei praticamente todo dia em Manly Beach, Dee Why, Collaroy ou Narrabeen Beach.

Ficar com uma host family é uma experiência inesquecível. Eu tinha duas ótimas irmãs com quem eu sempre conversava e elas me incluiam em tudo. Eu aprendi a cultura australiana e realmente me senti incluido na família, como me sinto na minha própria casa e me diverti muito ao mesmo tempo. Eu realmente me senti como um "Aussie". Eu encontrava com os meus amigos da escola, a gente sempre saía juntos e isso ajudou a melhorar meu inglês. Essa foi uma das maiores aventuras que eu já tive e eu queria agradecer ao CEA pelo suporte e orientação que eles me deram enquanto eu estava neste programa. Venha para cá com Campus Education Australia - O melhor!"

English translation
"Time has gone very quickly for me in Australia as I have now been here 6 months as it feels like only yesterday that I arrived!. At first, when I arrived at the airport I was a little anxious but then I was met by CEA representative and I felt much better. I was taken to my host family and after a couple of weeks I did not know what I had been so worried about in the first place. My host family made me feel very welcome and I started to meet friends at school and since then I have not looked back and had a wonderful time. I can not believe that I have spent all this time here. My high school was great and Sydney is a beautiful city where there are many things to see and do especially in the northern beaches where I surfed just about everyday at Manly Beach, Dee Why, Collaroy or Narrabeen beach.

Staying with a host family is an unforgettable experience. I had two great host sisters who I always talked to and they included me in everything. I learnt the Australian culture and really felt included in the family just as I do back home and had lots of fun at the same time. I really felt like an "Aussie". I met many friends at school, we always went out together and this helped to improve my English language. This is one of the best adventures I have had and I wish to thank CEA for the support and guidance they have given while I have been on this program. . Come down under with Campus Education Australia - the best!"

Corinne - Switzerland

"J'ai étudié en Australie pendant six mois, ce qui a été une expérience magnifique et très enrichissante que je n'oublierai jamais. Campus Education Australia (CEA) prend soin des étudiants, en leur donnant une attention personnelle et de bonnes recommandations. Ma famille m'a très bien accueillie, j'ai beaucoup apprécié partager leur vie et j'avais vraiment l'impression de faire partie de leur famille. Leur style de vie était assez similaire au mien en Suisse. Etudier dans une "High School" (équivalent au gymnase en Suisse), m'a donné l'opportunité de rencontrer des étudiants australiens et de me faire de nouveaux amis. Je pense que c'est le meilleur moyen d'améliorer et de développer une langue étrangère. Il y a beaucoup de choses à faire à Sydney, comme surfer, faire du rafting, de la plongée, de la voile, de l'escalade ou aller à la plage. CEA m'a permis de vivre une expérience magnifique et inoubliable."

English translation
"I studied in Australia for six months, it was a wonderful and enriching experience I will never forget. Campus Education Australia (CEA) takes care of its students, by giving them personal attention and good recommendations. I was welcomed by my Australian family very well and I really enjoyed sharing their lives and feeling part of their family. Their way of life is very similar to my own in Switzerland.

Studying in a local High School gave me the opportunity to meet many Australian students and make new friends. I think it is the best way to improve and develop foreign language skills There are many things to do in Australia, like surfing, water rafting, scuba diving, rock climbing, sailing or going to the beach. Being involved with CEA allowed me to have a wonderful experience."

Fernanda - Sertãozinho, São Paulo

"I really enjoyed my stay in Australia for 6 months.I learnt many things by attending a local high school and met many new Australian friends. I want to really thank my home host family who welcomed me into their family as one of their own daughters. They are a great family and I never forget their kindness, love and help, and my host mothers cooking was the best.

Thanks with all my heart . Love Fernanda."
"Studying in an Australian school allowed me to develop my English language and make many new Australian friends."

FERNANDA

Also a letter from Fernanda's parents.
Dear Jennifer and Nick, We are very happy to have our daughter with your family. We thank God everyday for you having received Fernanda in your house. Fernanda is a very humble and caring girl, and for this reason we miss her very much, but her happiness to be together with your family is much more important. We can't express in words how much we thank you for what you are doing for Fernanda, and she says that she feels like a daughter in your house, and this makes the time pass quickly. We think that's great! You can be sure that you have adopted a happy human being, created by the hands of God, that loves all the people around her. You have contributed enormously and we are proud of you and Fernanda. Maybe you don't realise the greatness of your actions towards Fernanda, but certainly, your actions count with God. Our house is always open to you and your family to visit when you come to Brazil.

We would like to write many beautiful things to you, but to put it into one phrase by Drumond: "Nothing is too small if you have a big soul" (Brazilian poet) or "Everthing is worth it when the soul is not small" May God be with you and we send a kiss to each one's heart.

Regards Neide and Mario PS: We read your letter and we were very happy with your attention and so I have written this letter with the help of Mario and my English teacher and friend (Australia)
Jackelyn.

Angeles - Santa Fe, Argentina

"Australia is a wonderful safe country. I feel very comfortable with my new Australian host family. I enjoyed having Australian sisters to ride bikes and take the dog for walks. I really felt a part of the family. Studying in Australia allowed me to develop new friendships and practise my English language - it is a wonderful experience, one I will always remember."

Angeles

Bea - Koln, Germany

English translation

Hey everybody! I have been in Sydney Australia - for 6 months, which has passed by far too quick! Well, first when I arrived everything was so strange for me: the surrounding, the atmosphere, just everything was different and so I was really homesick, what I never felt before. But CEA helped me to settle down and my host family supported me as well.

Host family means my host parents, my 2 host sisters and my host brother, who are really nice. They make me laugh all the time and I have much to join in, because they are very active. They live in a nice house close to the beach, the shops and the school. I always ride my host brothers bike, so I am everywhere in about 5 min. I really love the beach, so I spent much time there with my friends. The school is pretty good. I joined year 10 and so I had the formal ( a dinner dance) . I did not even know what it was, because it does not exist in Germany, but I really liked it. After I got used to the different system I really enjoyed it, because it was really easy compared to my German school.

It is the best place to make friends. I was really lucky to be in Sydney during the Olympic Games. CEA took me to see an event - swimming and I also went to an indoor Volley ball game. I also went to the Paralympic Games twice and saw so many impressive things it was great. The highlight was the closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games, which my host family took me to.

During my vacation I also went on a Safari coach trip to Adelaide, through Central Australia to the Ayers Rock and the Great Barrier Reef, and down the coast to Brisbane and Surfers Paradise. The whole trip was such a great experience, that I will never forget it and should not be missed.

At the moment I am experiencing an Australian Christmas, which is my first hot Christmas ever! Early in December I also went to Melbourne - Victoria with another exchange student. This was another great part of my stay in Australia. I learned so many things about Australia, its culture and people. I got many other benefits from those 6 months as well. My English has improved, I made good friends, I learned how to have responsibility and I am sure that there are many more things. Sydney Australia - the best……

Thank you - BEA, Koln Germany

German translation

Hallo! Ich bin jetzt seit 6 Monaten in Sydney, Australien und die Zeit ist gerast. Als ich vor sechs Monaten ankam war alles fremd: die Umgebung, die Atmosphaere, einfach alles war anders. Ich hatte sehr starkes Heimweh in der ersten Zeit, aber CEA und meine Gastfamilie haben mich wirklich unterstuetzt und mir geholfen mich einzugewoehnen. In meiner Gastfamilie sind meine Gasteltern, meine 2 Gastschwestern und mein Gastbruder.

Ich kann viel mit ihnen unternehmen, denn irgendwas ist immer los. Es gibt immer was zu lachen. Ich wohne mit ihnen in einem schoenen Haus in der Naehe des Strandes. Ich kann ausserdem zu den Geschaeften laufen und die Schule ist direkt um die Ecke. Ich bin ueberall in ca. 5 min.. Ich bin ziemlich oft am Strand oder mit meinen Freunden in der naechsten shopping Mall.

Die australische Schule ist sehr verschieden zur deutschen. Nachdem ich mich an das andere System gewoehnt hatte, hat mir die Schule sehr gut gefallen, denn es ist viel einfacher, verglichen zur deutschen Schule. Die Schule ist der beste Ort, um Freunde zu finden. Ich konnte mich ziemlich gluecklich schaetzen, dass ich waehrend den olympischen Spielen in Sydney war. Ich sah Syncronschwimmen und Volleyball. Nach den olympischen Spielen habe ich eine Reise durch Australien unternommen. Unter anderem ging es zum Ayers Rock und dem Great Barriers Reef. Das war ein weiteres highlight waehrend meinem Aufenthalt.

Als ich von der Reise zurueckkam ging es direkt weiter mit den paralympischen Spielen, die ich zweimal besucht habe.Ein weiterer Hoehepunkt war die closing ceremony der paralympischen Spiele. Anschliessend hatte ich eine kleine Pause, um den Strand zu besuchen und einfach zu relaxen und alles zu verarbeiten bis ich dann Anfang Dezember fuer vier Tage nach Melbourne geflogen bin. Die ganzen vier Tage waren mit Sehenswuerdigkeiten vollgepackt.

Als ich von Melbourne wieder eingereist war, stand Weihnachten schon vor der Tuere, welches mein erstes warmes Weihnachten war. Es war ungewohnt und ich war bei dreissig Grad auch nicht in Weihnachtsstimmung, aber es war doch eine Erfahrung. Ich war dann also an Weihnachten am Strand und die Ventilatoren im Haus waren auf Hochtouren, denn es war sehr heiss. Als naechstes erwartet mich Sylvester und ich bin jetzt schon gespannt, was mich da erwartet.

Abschliessend kann ich Australien nur weiterempfehlen und mein ganzer Aufenthalt hat mich viele hilfreiche Dinge gelernt, wie z.B. Selbststaendigkeit, Verantwortung tragen, mein Englisch hat sich verbessert, ich habe sehr viel ueber die australische Kultur und Lebensweise gelernt und ich bin mir sicher, dass da noch viele andere Dinge sind.

BEA………

Alexsandra - São Paulo Brazil

"I had a wonderful time in Australia, I stayed here for 5 months. I learnt many things in Australia, met many new people. I joined the Manly Surf Club and enjoyed surfing, riding the paddle boards, and swimming at Manly Beach the best beach in Sydney .

My home host family were wonderful, I can not thank them enough for all the things they did to help me and allow me to have experience I will never forget. I will be back soon."

With love Ali Alexsandra.

Paulo - Saõ Paulo Brazil

"Eu estive na Australia por 11 mêses pude constatar que Sidney é uma cidade encantadora por ser limpa e segura você aprimora seu inglês e desfruta de iversas atividades que na Australia são dimais como: pular de uma ponte seguro só por um elástico, descer altas correntezas num pequeno bote, saltar de paraquedas, surfar em lindas praias com ondas emocionantes,. jogar futebol em campos belicimos, tenho certeza que você não vai querer ir embora.. Além de tudo isso você tem a chance de fazer novos amigos com pessoas do mundo inteiro, e ser assistido de perto por uma empreza especializada em intercambios de estudantes chamada Campus Education Australia ( CEA ) que lhe arrumará a acomodação em famílias acolhedouras que você se sentirá em sua própria casa. Se você estiver cursando o colegial Imelhor ainda pois está chance lhe ajudará a ter um futuro brilhante.. Não se esqueça da excelente oportunidade Campus Education Australia está lhe dando."

Paulo - Saõ Paulo Brazil

English translation
"I studied in Australia for 11 months and had a really great time. Sydney is a wonderful clean city, it is safe and a great place to learn English. There are a great many things to see and do that you can enjoy such as Bungy jumping, white water rafting, sky diving and surfing the great waves on the beautiful beaches. I played football, soccer in beautiful natural green environment with lots of green trees, This is an experience you will never forget. Australia offers many opportunities. You will meet new friends from all parts of the world. Specializing in student exchange, Campus Education Australia (CEA) will organise excellent accommodation and caring home host families for you to experience and they are very much like my home in Brazil. Studying at a local high school gave me the chance to develop many experiences for my future. I will never forget this excellent opportunity Campus Education Australia has given me."

"Sydney is a fantastic place. I am glad I came to Australia to study English, it is safe and I feel happy. I have seen and experienced many new things and places. My host family is very good to me, I feel like I am in my own home"

PAULO

PARENT OVERVIEW TO Campus Education Australia (CEA)

Parents: Dr Alexander and Mrs Barbara Riklin
Student: Lucas Riklin – 17 years Vienna Austria
Arrived in January 2002 Departed July 2002

Dear Jennifer,

Only one more week until Lucas will be back to Vienna. First of all we want to thank you very fondly for everything! You supported Lucas in such a very kind way during his stay in Sydney. It was a good feeling for us knowing there is someone taking care and helping.

We read Lucas' report and were impressed how he improved his English, described his stay in Australia in great details and expressed his feelings about everything. We think these 6 months have been a great challenge and adventure for Lucas. He learned to live and act more independent, got to know Australia, it's people and culture, found a new home at his lovely hostfamily (Thank you for choosing this kind family for him!!!), got to know a different schoolsystem, nice teachers and a lot of new schoolmates. Of course he also improved his English skills and besides discovered his love for surfing.

One of the highlights of his stay was the big safari, where Lucas didn't only see so many beautiful places but also made many friends from all over the world. Now we are looking forward to having Lucas back home again. It will not be easy for him to leave his new life, his host family and his friends at Sydney.

Dear Jennifer, once again: many thanks for your support and effort! Our youngest
son Laurenz already mentioned, that he also would like to go to Australia in some
years - so maybe we will talk to you then.

If you are ever planning to travel to Europe, we would be happy to welcome you in
Vienna.

Best regards and hope to see you,

Barbara and Alexander

Parents: Mrs Celia and Mr Jeremy Snapp (USA)
Student: Colin - 17 years USA spent 6 months in Sydney Australia CEA Intercultural high school program

Dear Jennifer and CEA, Our son Colin has arrived home and has not stopped since he arrived. He had a wonderful experience. Colin has always been independent and I think the whole experience in Australia was self confidence building and an incredible education.

Learning how to live with different families, seeing a different educational system and traveling gave him a wonderful perspective on life. I think he has come home with a tolerance for others and a sense of himself.

We appreciated all that you did to make this possible. We appreciated the support that you provided Colin. As parents we felt you provided the communication and support that reassured us that all was well. By giving him a sense of security at the beginning he was able to go out and form his own relationships and make his own choices by the end.

Thank you for all you did.

Sincerely
Celia and Jeremy Snapp
United States of America USA