Five weeks studying in Paris in a fairytale location with visits to the Eiffel Tower and Disneyland Paris... It sounds like a dream, doesn’t it! But this is what Flinders Year 10 student Demi C got to experience last term. The opportunity was part of our Round Square International Exchange Program at Flinders.
From April 2024, Demi spent five weeks at the Ermitage International School of France in Paris. She was the first exchange student to visit the school, an opportunity that came about through reaching out via the Round Square network.
After connecting with her French exchange buddy, Ivana, and after numerous Zoom calls, texts and counting down the days, Demi ventured solo to Paris to begin her French adventure. After five weeks, Demi travelled back to Buderim with Ivana so that her buddy could experience five weeks at Flinders and explore the Sunshine Coast.
We caught up with Demi and Ivana to find out more about their exchange experience.
Why did you choose the school in France?
I really wanted to go to Europe as I've travelled more around Asia and Japan. I liked the international school and the smaller classes, the more intimate learning and the campus looked beautiful. I think France is always just that magical place and they had the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, and I really wanted to try it.
What were your first impressions of Ermitage?
The school is set in a beautiful location, and the town is like a fairytale!
What were the main differences you noticed between Ermitage and Flinders?
As the school is international, everything is taught in English, but everyone there knows at least two languages, like French and English.
The school is basically split up into a bunch of different buildings, a couple blocks away from each other so it was a bit like a university set up. So we would walk along the town for certain things and you were able to go out with friends for lunch, which was nice and different to Flinders. Also, the school size and the class sizes were so much smaller.
What were your main highlights of the experience?
We did so many things. Out of school, I would say it's probably either climbing the Eiffel Tower or going to Disneyland.
I think in school, it was honestly the people as I met so many people. And then also, because it is such a small grade (only 25 people), you could meet everyone, and then everyone kind of knew you. I got the school jacket and everyone signed it at the end.
Staying with the host family was wonderful. So the people were the best thing about it and I’m still in contact with them. It's really nice.
Ivana, can you tell us what your impressions are of Flinders?
From my school, it’s very different and there are so many more people in the grade. And everything is condensed into one big space and you can walk around the whole campus, which is cool. Also the curriculum is different.
Any highlights of the Sunshine Coast and Australia?
We went to Sydney to stay with Demi’s grandparents. They have an apartment that looks out to the harbour so it was a nice place to stay with a beautiful view. We also went to the zoo and I fed kangaroos!
Are there any highlights from your time at Flinders?
I love playing volleyball at lunchtime with Demi's friends. I was doing volleyball in Belgium, which was where I lived before, and I quit, and so I was trying to get back into it, but my school doesn't have a sports program apart from basketball. And so I learned that here you can do volleyball, and so I thought, I'm trying it. So for a whole month, I've been getting back into it, which is really fun.
I do like the electives too so I’m trying different subjects like Psychology and Legal Studies. And then also, hanging out with new friends on the weekend. Just fun things, like, also doing stuff with the host family, going to the beach with friends or, picnics or dinners out. I’ve enjoyed that!
So Demi, what would you say to anybody else that could be considering an international Exchange?
100% do it! I had travelled a lot and I was very secure in that but then I also found certain things tough.
So I think it's such a learning experience in such a positive way. You have your exchange buddy who is like a tour guide. But It's not going to be the easiest thing ever and that's the whole idea of it - to challenge yourself.
It’s a whole different curriculum, but then you're really learning social skills and everything. And the whole different way of living. You put yourself out there and go into someone else's life.
I wouldn't regret it, and I think anywhere you go really would be such a great experience.
As a certified Round Square School, Flinders connects and collaborates with the 250+ like-minded schools across 50 countries in the Round Square network, all offering world-class exchange, service learning and leadership programs.
