After a brief welcome ceremony involving speeches from students and staff from both schools, the students participated in a tour of the College grounds, ably led by our Year 9, 10 and 11 Japanese students. This allowed both groups of students a chance to get to know each other a littler better and practise their language skills.
A visit to Calmsley Hill Farm then ensued. Our Japanese friends saw the Stock Whip Show and the Working Dog Show. They walked through the kangaroo enclosure, saw sleeping koalas and wombats, and too many venomous snakes to mention. They enjoyed seeing Australia's brightly coloured birds too.
On Monday 6 August, the group headed to Euroka Clearing in the Blue Mountains National Park. They joined the College's Japanese classes participating in an orientation activity and a photo scavenger hunt. They saw wild kangaroos grazing, heard 6 kookaburras laughing loudly and ate damper, tim tams and lamingtons for morning tea. A typical Aussie BBQ lunch of sausage sandwiches was enjoyed and then it was onto the Farewell Ceremony in the outdoors.
Tuesday morning saw the students and teachers leave early for a city tour and then a flight back home.
A huge thank you to those very kind families who hosted the students. Many heart-warming stories about hospitality and hilarious attempts to communicate across two languages were told.
This was yet another great opportunity to build a stronger relationship with our sister school, foster community in our College and intercultural learning amongst our teenagers.
Mrs Fiona Byrne
Coordinator of LOTE
