1997 School Magazine

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Exchange Frotn South Africa

M y name is Tina Kistenmacher and I am a Rotary Exchange student from the Cape Town Rotary Club, hosted by the Windsor Club for 1997. I am eighteen years old, the youngest of a family of five . There is my mother, Gabriele, my father, Gerhard, brother, Thorsten, my sister, Ann and our two dogs, Chrissie and Strolchi. We live on the southernm~st tip of Africa in Cape Town, a big harbour city, where we often take our dogs for long walks along the beach. But you can do anything from hiking, diving, surfing, to visiting the waterfront, fleamarkets, gardens, wine routes, Table Mountain or town.

you for taking me in as you did! In my old school, Deutsche Schute Kapstadt (German School Cape Town), we had 500 pupils from Kindergarten to Year Twelve. When I graduated back home, my class consisted of twenty-four Year Twelves - that was all! What a difference suddenly attending a grade with over 200 girls! At the end of the year we do not have internal school exams or a QCS test but instead a state exam which is the only way to qualify for admission to the universities in SouthAfrica. Nothing else counts. There are no roll-calls, lessons are forty minutes long and a school day ends at 2.10 p .m.. At BGGS there is a much greater variety of clubs and extracurricular subjects which is really fascinating. At BGGS I learnt to tie a tie for the first time! It is a great experience to be able to attend Brisbane Girls Grammar and be part of Year Twelve .

Table Mountain

Last year I applied and was accepted for the Rotary Youth Exchange Program back home. The application involves a long selection process in which they test, evaluate and prepare you for a possible year overseas as an 'Outbounder Student' . Rota1y provides you with the opportunity to live with different host families , attend a school, meet many people and experience a whole 'new' lifestyle, culture and countiy for one year. I never thought time could go by so quickly. So much has happened and so much has changed. I am now here at BGGS in Brisbane, Australia! I am constantly on the move , meeting new people, visiting different places, collecting many memories! It is an experience that takes you for an unbelievable ride in which you meet people from all over the world and families to whom you grow so close, even though you have only known them for a few months. In these few months I know, I have seen more than I had ever thought possible and have met so many people who all share a special place in my heart. Many thoughts and experiences, shared conversations and trips - it all adds to your year! There is so much out there! I have been able to go up and down the coastline, go through Brisbane, share much time with my host families, attend school and visit another exchange student on a farm. For me, the country here really speaks for itself; sometimes eve1y place seems to have its own pace of life. In school I have experienced a school system I have never had before. BGGS has given me so much as there are many possibilities and options here and new people to meet! Thank

Tina (centre) at tbe swimming

Then there was the 'Walkabout Tour', a trip organised through Rotary for all the Exchange Students in this District, a trip across parts of Australia . It was beautiful, almost like a dream for me. There was so much to take in and I got to know many other exchange students. Many of them (from the Northern Hemisphere) have already left for home and my time is going so quickly as well. I can't believe it! What we, as exchange

students , experience will stay with me and in my heart. Thank you for taking me into your school , for showing me every aspect of your school, and for your friendship . It is really won- derful - an unbelievable rollercoaster ride! Enkosi! Dit is werklik pragtig! Danke! TINA KISTENMACHER

Souvenir shopping in Melbourne

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