AN Albury student and a German student will experience life in each other’s world.
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It is part of the long-running Rotary International Youth Exchange program, which started in the 1950s.
Rotary Club of Albury-Hume sponsored Jack Kadaoui, 17, to live in Hanover during 2015 while Hanover student Lenni Schaefer, 17, moved to Albury in early August.
With a population of 500,000 in Hanover, Jack said his 12-month exchange was a big change from the Border in some ways.
“They have a lot of culture-based festivals with a real community atmosphere,” he said.
“The food was different but I came to love it.”
The Albury High School student said a highlight of his exchange was a three-week tour throughout Europe with other Rotary exchange students.
“That was amazing; it was a dream come true,” he said.
As a student at Albury High School since August, Lenni has been able to put his English into practice.
“Every German starts learning English in the third grade,” he said in fluent English.
“All of my friends in Germany speak better English than me.”
Lenni said he was hosted by a family who lived in central Albury near the high school.
”It takes me five minutes to walk to school,” he said.
“I also see people I know around town which is not very common in Hanover because it’s a bigger city.”
Lenni said his four older siblings had inspired him to travel as they had all done some type of student exchange.
“My first choice was to travel to Australia,” he said.
“This country is so far away, it’s something different and it’s very cool.”
Rotary Club of Albury-Hume has also selected Benalla girl Lauren Murphy to spend 12 months in Switzerland in 2017.
Lauren, 14, who attended Year 9 at Cathedral College Wangaratta, said she looked forward to her exchange opportunity.
She said she had never been to Switzerland before and had to complete an online language course before she flew out in January.
“Opportunities like these have the ability to change people’s whole world perspective,” she said.
“I’m interested in the Swiss language, culture and way of life. I’m also looking forward to the landscape, the food, the people and the chocolate!”
The three students attended the lunch-time meeting of the Rotary Club of Albury-Hume at The Albury Club on Wednesday to address members on their experiences and expectations as exchange students.
