1989 School Magazine

My unforgettable memories include Cathy and Liz teaching the Sherpas to do the Heel and Toe Polka to a not quite right drum beat, the 1000 m. vertical climb up stairs one afternoon, the first taste of fried rum balls served with spaghetti and tomato gravy, the welcoming sight of a Sherpa coming towards Lin and me with a kettle of hot orange cordial in the middle of a cold forest, and sharing a hot thermal pool beside an icy river with Rachel and Jill. All of us will remember the Sherpas who made the trip what it was with their ready smiles and genuine caring - a shy, friendly and beautiful people. We arrived home with a tremendous sense of achievement and satisfaction. The general feeling was that we wanted to go back NOW! Mary McAdam

FAI R EXCHANG E After the first impact of life in a strange country, our exchange students had a number of impressions and reactions in common. Language, naturally, presented problems, even to Carmen de Ville from South Africa, who found that not only is there a difference between English and Australian, but that School English is peppered with mysterious words like "dag" and "skeg". All agree, however, that living with a family does wonders for your idiom. Fabiana Paes, from Brazil, found how important the insignificant, familiar aspects of life become, when they are half a world away. For Yoko Seez, from )apan, the relaxed atmosphere, and the degree of freedom allowed to girls was a revelation, and will be a memory cherished nostalgically. Yoko Nakano, also from Japan, was mystified by some of our customs, like sneezing or blowing one's nose in public. School work presented a degree of difficulty that came as a shock to the system. txchange students: M. Bustamante (Ecuador), F. Paes (Brazil), C. deVille (south Af rica), n t*' Y."fi:l,J"tt;il:"i steiner (switzerland),

Mariuxi Bustamante - A.F.S. exchange student from Ecuador - in national costume

Differences in school curricula and subject choice also struck Mariuxi Bustamante from Equador. An unexpected cultural contrast that came as a surprise was the Australian passion for acquiring a suntan, while in South America a pale creamy complexion is prized. Everyone gradually learned to cope with School Sports car- nivals, Assembly, lamingtons, lmbil, and the day to day life of B.C.C.S. Some have.been luckier than others, and seen more of the country, but everyone has enjoyed seeing what she could of Australia. Above all, the consensus of opinion among our exchange students is that to be "adopted" by a host family is a very warm experience, and that the friendships they have made will always be very special. We hope that when Carmen and Yoko and Fabiana, Yoko and Mariuxi do leave us, they do not say "good bye" to Australia, but rather "see ya again, mate!"

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