At Ermitage International School, we foster internationalism, and we strive to shape global citizens. With this in mind, each year through the Round Square Network - which Ermitage is part of - several Lycée and IB school students have the opportunity to go on an exchange at some of our partner schools and host a student from this school here in France.  

This time, Salomé, a Terminale student at Lycée Ermitage, went to Australia at Matthew Flinders Anglican College on the Australian Sunshine Coast, and stayed for 4 weeks with a local family. She then hosted Natalie, a student from the same school in Ermitage. We asked her a few questions to find out more about this exceptional exchange experience.

Salomé with Natalie and her dad in Australia

An Unforgettable Trip to Australia

In which country did you do your school exchange and for how long?

I went to the Sunshine Coast in Australia, also called Sunny coast by locals! I stayed with Natalie and her family, and they were so nice !I stayed for 4 weeks, from mid-July to mid-August, and was able to experience school life at Matthew Flinders Anglican college.

What did you like the most during this school exchange experience?

I actually LOVED everything.  The people there are SO nice and chill, the weather is warmer and the landscape is so pretty. I felt really relaxed and happy during the whole month, I deeply miss it. I was lucky as well to live near the beach, which was relaxing and beautiful. Then, I also got the chance to travel to Lady Elliot - a local island - to see the coral reef and the marine animals like small sharks or big turtles ! I think that the memories I made during this whole month are going to last forever. 

I also remember a particularly funny moment with Natalie's parents: Natalie's mother kept saying that she was seeing manta rays during our stay at Lady Elliot, when it was everything but a manta ray. That became like an inside joke and it was really funny. Overall, I think I just had so much fun with Natalie, her friends and her family. 

From left to right: 1. Natalie, the Australian exchange student's dogs Holly and Daisy.

2. Salomé petting a kangaroo. 3. The view near Natalie’s house.

What did you discover about Australia that you did not know before?

I discovered that Australia has a super rich and diverse culture as there are so many communities like British, Irish, Italian, Aboriginal... And there’s a type of respect or at least a desire to highlight the Aboriginal people and their rich culture (at least in my exchange student school).  I found it beautiful, touching and enriching. Then, their national anthem focuses on nature, native peoples and culture in general, which differs from the French anthem.

I also loved the diversity in fauna. I learned that some Kangaroos can actually be so chill, and I even got the chance to pet one, and that koalas are the cutest animals ever. Moreover, Australians are excellent swimmers and surfers (obviously), which was something they were proud of during the Olympics that occurred while I was there. Finally, the Australian accent is so cute and funny, I loved it ! I also caught it, so now my English accent is a mix of British and Australian.

What is the biggest difference between Ermitage Lycée and Matthew Flinders Anglican college ?

Overall, school was so different from France. Firstly, the days were shorter - 9AM to 3PM - so there was so much time for sports or other extracurricular activities, and it was less tiring. Secondly, students wear a really cute uniform, but there are really strict rules about it. There is also a better relationship between the students and the teachers, who have a closer relationship than in France. Then, students in Year 11 and 12 get to choose 6 subjects between several ones and create their timetable, so you really do what you like, and I find this cool. That’s maybe what makes school there less stressful, as there was a really general positive vibe. I think the location also helped as the school is bigger, and the city is greener and sunnier.

From Sun to Snow: Salomé’s Experience as a Host 

Salomé and Natalie at Disneyland Paris.

How was your overall experience as a host?

Hosting an exchange student in France was so cool. I was really happy to show her my culture, my house, my family. Natalie loved the architecture, Paris in general, the food, and we even got the chance to visit my family in the north of France so she could discover another part of the country. She also met my friends, which I was really happy about! She was able to easily go to Paris with another exchange student, who was one of my friend's exchange student, thanks to the RER and the metros. That gave her freedom to visit more places during the week or the weekends when I was too busy with school or homework. I was so happy to spend more time with her and get to know her better, even though we bonded so well when I was in Australia. She also got the chance to see snow for the first time during her stay, and I was so happy to share this joyful moment with her. I just loved that month we spent together. 

What was the best moment that you shared with Natalie?

The funniest moment we shared was the day it snowed in Paris. We were supposed to go to the Eiffel Tower with my friend and her exchange student, but there was too much snow, so it closed just before we arrived. Instead, we went to the Champs-Élysées and also to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. The funny thing was that Natalie and I kept sliding, and we almost fell so many times because everything was icy! Because of the fog, we were also struggling to see anything, so that was a bit funny. At the end of the day, we had a snowball fight, and we just laughed so much. 

Salomé, Natalie and their friends under the snow at the top of the Arc de Triomphe.

Would you recommend this school exchange opportunity to other students? Why?

I would recommend this experience 100%. It may look scary at first because you go to a country far from home, in a family you don't know and where you may have to speak another language than your usual one, but it is so enriching. You have the opportunity to discover a new culture, make new friends, even a long-lasting friend, and progress in a certain language. Personally, I made so much progress in English thanks to this exchange. The memories you make are incredible, and it can change you in some ways, at least this is what happened to me. 

Will you stay in touch with Natalie?

I am still in touch with Natalie. We regularly check on each other through messages, and we try to call from time to time. We even made plans to have a gap year together, visit other countries in Europe, go back to Australia and visit more cities. We don't really know if it's possible, but we keep on dreaming and hoping it will happen). I also stayed in touch with her mother, with whom I built a really strong link. She is so nice, and she made me feel at home. I just loved the time I got to spend with her. I'm just thankful I got the chance to meet Natalie and her family!