Lyle Bruys, a Grade 11 student at St George’s Diocesan School in Windhoek, went on a student exchange programme to Germany from 15 June to 23 July this year. He attended Landheim Ammersee in Schondorf, in the Bavaria region of Germany.
“A student exchange is not just an opportunity to see a new part of the world but also the ability to broaden perspectives on other places, their cultures and how countries function outside of our own. Each and every student that has been on an exchange has returned with lifelong friendships, a whole new outlook on life, and countless adventures to talk about,” said Ms Milz.
Lyle really enjoyed the multi-cultural aspect of the classes he attended at Landheim Ammersee. “My class was filled with students who grew up in different parts of the world, like America, Ukraine, and Thailand.”
He said that during this exchange programme, he learnt he can live independently. “I had to navigate the train system throughout Germany alone, such as between Frankfurt and Schondorf. I have always been scared to get lost in a place I don’t know, and this exchange showed me that I can do it alone.”
Ms Milz said that our host families are subject to an in-depth screening process on both sides of the exchange. That way, we ensure that those who can host are accommodating, safe, and able to show their guests a bit of the country they are in.
According to Lyle, the time he spent on Lake Ammersee was extremely valuable to him, and he shared many amazing memories on the lake with the friends he made. “It is also a stunning location just to sit and look at the German Alps in the background.”
Coming back from the exchange programme, Lyle found it difficult to adapt to Namibian school life and wake up early again. “In Germany, I had three lessons a day, each lasting 1.5 hours, with a total of 1.5 hours of break time during the day. School started at 08:00 and ended at 15:00, which differs greatly from St George’s.
The one thing Lyle missed while in Germany was a good braai. “The food we were given was absolutely amazing, but I missed eating some good braai food.”
Ms Milz encourages St George’s students to also consider hosting an exchange student from another country. Hosting an exchange student fosters lasting connections, imparts valuable life skills like responsibility and kindness, and offers a uniquely satisfying experience of sharing your life, school, and country.
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