by Britney Avila SHP '19
It has been a couple of days since I came back home from Seville and I miss the beautiful city already. This journey gave me an inside look into the Spanish culture and customs. I've met wonderful people during my stay in Seville that made my trip 100x better. The food in Spain is definitely another factor that made my trip to Seville one to never forget. I would like to thank Marta and her family for opening up their home for me and for taking the time out of their day to site see wonderful landmarks in Seville and many other cities. I would also like to thank Marta's friends for welcoming me in to their group and making me feel comfortable. We'll definitely keep in touch! To Marta's English teacher, thank you for taking the time out of your break to show me around Córdoba and exposing me to the wonderful architecture that the city has to offer. Doing this exchange is probably one of the best decisions I made and I wouldn't change it for the world. Seville now will always have a special place in my heart...and so will their amazing soccer team. Can't wait to see Marta again in September!
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I just got back from my exchange trip to Seville, Spain. I stayed there for nearly three weeks, and it was an amazing experience. During the weekdays I went to school with Clara, where I met her friends and classmates. Their school was smaller than ours, and her grade was divided into two classes of roughly 20 people, and all of her classes were in one room. After the first three classes in the morning, we had a break, and we sat with some of Clara's friends while eating snacks. Then we had another three classes and headed home for lunch at 2:30. One day, after school, we drove to an ancient city once occupied by the Romans, where a couple scenes from Game of Thrones were filmed. We had a short tour, then went back home for dinner, which was generally around 9:30-10:30. That weekend we went out to the movies with Clara’s friends, Nerea, Cristina, Paula, Angela, and Miriam, then went over to Nerea’s house for a sleepover. After eating churros for breakfast, we returned to Clara’s house to shower, then headed back to school for an end of school celebration/dance. We were up until about 1 in the morning, and slept in late the next day.
By: Claire Van Dyke '19 The last week in Brisbane has been great! I have down so much and I have enjoyed every part of it!Last Saturday we started off by going to an open day at Australian Catholic University for Sophie! Then we came home for some lunch then headed to a rugby game! It was really fun to watch! I was really confused but after an explanation of the rules it great to watch! It was the big rivalry game between two of the boys schools. Here to show what team's school you attend, the boys wear their uniforms. It was interesting to see how they attend their football games. Then we came home and grabbed jackets and headed to downtown Brisbane for the noodle market at South Bank. We took the city cat which is a boat that travels up and down the Brisbane river taking you through the city. The noodles were very good and we walked around South Bank. Sunday we went to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary! We fed Kangaroos and saw many different Australian animals! The Kangaroos were fun to meet and they were vert tame. I also was given the chance to hold a Koala! They are very soft and cute animals. For last week I have been following Sophie around to her different classes and I have enjoyed going to another Sacred Heart School. Their school is very different but it also has its similarities. Everybody has been very kind and welcoming. Overall I am having a great time! By Sophia SHP'20
My final two weeks with Mathilde and her family were absolutely filled to the brim with exciting activities and opportunities. Birthdays are a big deal in the Herve family, so for the birthday of a distant family member, the entirety of Mathilde’s father’s side of the family threw a boisterous party. People flew out from Canada, Britain, and other parts of France to attend this celebration in Bretagne. For me, this meant a lot of new people to meet and (attempt) to learn the names of. The night after the party, about 25 people, which only made up about one third of the attendees, stayed over at the grandparents’ house. Because there was not enough space for everyone, all the kids camped outside in tents in the pouring rain. I had a wonderful time with all the cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and everyone in between. For the next week, six children, including myself, stayed with the grandparents at the beautiful farm. It was an experience completely unlike anything before for me because I have never truly spent time in the countryside. Each day, we all went out to spend time with goats, horses, dogs, cats, chickens, and bunnies (we snuck the babies into the house for a few hours). We also drove to a public swimming pool where we had a marvelous time jumping off the multiple diving boards, playing volleyball, failing miserably at the water tightrope, and tanning in the scalding heat. Additionally, I was introduced to many food specialties of Bretagne and ate more Nutella than anyone ever should! One thing that really stuck out to me was the importance of food in French culture. All other activities revolved around meal times, food preparation, and adequate digestive time. The apparent importance of food translated to a consistently relaxed atmosphere that fostered lots of conversation. I loved how comfortable everyone was, and I really felt like a member of the family. by Britney Avila SHP'19 Well today is my last day in the great city of Seville. Over the past week, I got to experience the wonderful culture and atmosphere that Seville embodies. I met Marta's wonderful friends who have welcomed me into their world. I spent most of the week hanging out with them by going out to dinner or visiting central Seville. I even got a chance to see Mamma Mia! with Marta and one of her best friends. On Thursday, Marta and I went to the Seville vs. Ujpest soccer game. Seville won 4-0! I also met Marta's English teacher, who gladly took Marta and I sightseeing in the city of Cordoba. We saw the Mosque-Cathedral in Cordoba, which was absolutely stunning. We then also walked up 12 stories of the bell tower to see an amazing view of the city of Cordoba. Then Marta's teacher took us to have some amazing herbal tea native to Cordoba. I am sad to say goodbye to Marta and her wonderful family, but to also say adiós to Seville. Seville has been one of the most beautiful cities with one of the most unique and lively culture I have ever witnessed in my life. However, I am happy to say that I have made many friends here in Seville and an unbreakable friendship with Marta and her family. Currently I am packing and preparing to eat my last dinner in Seville with Marta and her family. Food Update: INCREDIBLE!!! Definitely going to miss it when I leave tomorrow. By Sophia SHP'20 I have now passed a bit over a week with Mathilde and her family, and I have been having a wonderful time. For the first few days, Mathilde and I toured the incredible city of Nantes, exploring all the fun monuments and tourist attractions. Then, on the third day, her younger sister returned from staying with their grandparents. For the next few days, we hung out at the house a lot, watched some surprisingly good French reality TV shows, exchanged song recommendations, and even went shopping one day. After a few more days had passed, it was finally the weekend, so the whole family and I took some mini road trips to discover La Baule, Piriac, Saint Malo, and Mont Saint-Michel. It was so much fun to see these beautiful places while also hearing countless stories about past trips when the girls were younger. Visiting all of the fun tourist attractions has been such a rewarding experience for me, but I have found that the smaller, more relaxed moments have been more meaningful. Having these people welcome me into their family has felt incredible, and I have absolutely loved family dinners, meeting other friends and family, and just hanging out. Spending time in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere has really made me feel like a part of the family. I am so grateful to have such a kind exchange family, and I cannot wait for what will unfold throughout the remainder of my stay with them! By: Claire Van Dyke SHP'19I have spent two days here and I am having the best time! I left on Wednesday afternoon. I flew out of San Jose Airport to LAX where I connecting flight to Brisbane, Australia! The flight is 14 hours long, and I was pretty nervous for being up in the air for that long but after I got on the plane ate some dinner and went to sleep the flight was very easy and didn't feel as long as I thought it would. I arrived here at 6 am went through customs and met the Fern family on the other side. Sophie came to visit us in January so it was great to see her again and meet the rest of family in person and not just over face time! Probably the weirdest part of flying to Australia is that I took off on Wednesday and I landed on Friday, so I was never able to experience Thursday. Overall, my flight was very easy and enjoyable. Since I arrived very early on Friday we stopped at the Fern's house before I went to school. The Sacred Heart School here, Stuartholme, is very nice but very different. Its an all girls school that has students from grades 7 to grade 12. Their campus is very nice and it place at the top of a hill that looks over the city of Brisbane. We arrived at school and went to Assembly which was pretty similar to ours. We then went to a few of Sophie's classes. I ended up coming home early to rest up for the afternoon while Sophie had a big test that day. Overall, I am so excited to be here with Sophie and in Brisbane! by Britney Avila SHP'19 By Sophia SHP'20 by Britney Avila SHP'19
Maddie Levey - SHP '21When I got off the plane in Sevilla, I was overwhelmed with excitement. I had met up with Josie, another student from SHP at the Munich airport on the way to Spain, so we got off the plane together to go meet our exchange families. After we got our bags, we walked out two sliding doors to meet Candela, my exchange student, and Laura, Josie’s exchange student. We were greeted by getting kissed on both sides of our faces by everyone in the two families, which we soon figured out was a customary greeting in Spain. After I got unpacked at my new home for three weeks, Candela and her mom, Matilde, took me to their favorite singer, Dani Martin’s, concert. The concert was very fun and I got to know Candela and Matilde better. On Monday, I woke up early and got ready to go to school. I was welcomed by Candela’s friends and teachers, who are all very nice. I am in the same classes as Josie, and two other students from SHP, Isa and Jackie, are in different classes. That night, we went to the school’s graduation, which is for 10th graders. Even though the students still go to the same school for the next two years, it is the last year of “Secondary School”. I hung out with Candela and her friends, Josie, and Isa.
It is Thursday, June 7th, two days after I was supposed to leave for Seville for my exchange. I was very excited to be flying to Newark, Munich, and then to Seville because it was my first time traveling out of the country by myself. On Tuesday, June 5th, I got to the San Francisco Airport, checked my bag, went through security, and boarded my plane. I overheard a few of the flight attendants talking about how there had been a few mechanical issues with the plane, but I also heard them say that it was fixed, so I was not worried. My plane to Newark backed away from the gate and we watched the safety video; we were all ready to go. I had my headphones on when I heard an announcement over the loudspeaker. It confirmed that there was a mechanical problem and that we would have to deplane. Once I got off the plane I called my parents, went home, and rescheduled my flights for today, June 7th. Today, I am going to Washington DC, Munich, and finally, to Seville.
I am very excited to meet my exchange student, Candela, as I have been snap chatting and texting her and she seems very kind and excited as well. We have been talking about what we are going to do once I get there, and it all sounds very fun. We are going to a concert tomorrow night and I am looking forward to seeing her school, as I will be going there with her until her summer break starts, which is next week. I am also excited to try new foods and to be immersed in the Spanish language. Although I have not studied Spanish for very long, I really enjoy it and can't wait to learn more. By: Josie SHP '20I leave for Seville tomorrow, super early in the morning. One big thing that I am nervous for before leaving is getting through the airports alone. I have a layover in New Jersey, than in Germany, than I will finally get to Spain. I'm scared that I'm going to miss one of my flights or get lost in the airport, especially the one in Germany. The other reason I am nervous about this trip is because I have never met my family before! I will be hosting them sometime next year, but the whole trip will be a completely new experience for me, which I am also excited for.
I'm most excited to see what the culture is like in Seville and just experience something completely different than what I am used to. I have been texting Laura, my host through whats app for a while now and am excited to meet her and her family in person. I'm also curious to see what the school there will be like, compared to SHP. Tonight, I will be leaving for Seville, Spain to meet with my host family at the airport tomorrow morning. So far, we have emailed each other and we have FaceTimed with the host family once to go over any questions we have for each other. In preparation for this trip, I have gotten Global Entry, a credit card, exchanged my dollars for euros, and received global health insurance. I can't wait to see my host family in person. On the phone, they all seemed so nice! I am nervous to be flying by myself internationally for the first time, but I am excited for the new experience.
One of my main goals for this trip is to improve my Spanish skills and immerse myself in a different culture. I have been learning Spanish for the last several years, but it is difficult for me to understand native Spanish speakers at the speed with which they talk and be able to follow along the conversation. I also hope this trip will help me become more independent and culturally aware. While I have travelled to Spain before, I have never travelled this far internationally without my family. Despite my nervousness, I am still very excited to be experiencing a new culture and speak a different language. by Lauren K. SHP '18 It has been a few days since I left Auckland, and I think I have adjusted to the time change. It was pretty weird leaving Friday night and getting home Friday midday. I wish I could have stayed another weekend, but it didn’t work out. Leaving Auckland was almost harder than leaving my family in the Bay Area. Hannah and her friends brought me candy and treats on my last day at school. I am truly thankful that I got along so well with my host family and my host’s friends. It makes me even more excited for Hannah to stay with me in January. On my last night, my host family was very nice and took me out to dinner. I have noticed that New Zealand is very similar to the United States in that it is an immigrant’s country. So, there aren’t really a lot of traditional “New Zealand foods”. They are however known to have good lamb and good sea food. I had the lamb, and it was delicious. There is also a very fancy ice cream place that they took me too. It was amazing!!! Every ice cream that they serve is a work of art. I got the Afghan cookie flavor because Afghan cookies are popular in New Zealand. I was also very intrigued by the candy that New Zealand had. They had a few things that I have seen at home like Kit-Kat bars. A lot of their candy is the consistency of a marshmallow, a gummy, and taffy combined. My favorite was the pineapple lumps. Although they didn't really taste like pineapple, they were sweet, covered in chocolate, and addicting. I made sure to bring a lot home for my family! Overall, I am so glad that I went on exchange. I had way more fun than I thought I was going to have. I didn’t even get homesick! Two and half weeks really flew by, especially because I really felt at home there. I am already trying to convince my family to go on vacation there next year for the holidays (I can’t believe that people spend their Christmas and New Years on the beach!) I highly recommend exchange to anyone who is considering. My advice is to just be open to having a good time!
After almost 24 hours of flying I finally made it home to San Francisco and meet my family at the airport. At this point I've been so used to my relaxing summer in Spain, that coming home is kind of weird. But now that I'm home, I'm happy to see my family and friends and get a start to my volleyball season.
My experience in Spain has helped my understand more about the Spanish culture. I tasted so many new foods that are not made in America, which makes me want to be back in Spain with Ale again. Being in Spain with a Spanish family helped me get better at listening to the language and understanding it better than I did before in school. By listening to Spanish frequently, all day every day, helped my ability to speak to other people and build up the courage to try. I'm so glad that I participated in the exchange program at Sacred Heart because I'm now more comfortable with not only the language but flying and being on my own in the future. by Lauren K. SHP '18 I had so much fun this last weekend in Rotorua. Although it smelled like sulfur the whole time, I could not believe the beautiful landscape that I saw. I saw four different lakes. Each was so clear and surrounded by so many trees and plants. One of my favorite parts was getting close to a volcano! I also saw lots of sheep on this trip.
In Rotorua, I also got to do lots of touristy things. We went up a gondola and got a great view of the city and big lake. Again, there was lots of green. We rode the infamous luge, which is riding plastic carts down a cement path through some trees. It got pretty intense. We hoped in the car and headed back to Auckland, and we stopped on our way at the mount that my host and her friends spend New Years at. I loved that it was a total surfer’s town (even in the winter). Wow, I was so tired after that road trip. Two days ago, I got to practice with the water polo team. Although we just swam (my favorite!1!1), it was still cool to meet the team and the coach. The coach was on the New Zealand national team, so it was extra exciting to talk to her. Yesterday, Hannah and I took the train into town after school. I love the downtown area. The waterfront and the ferry building really remind me of San Francisco. I was so intrigued by the public transportation system. Hannah takes the train or the bus almost everywhere. It is so nice that their trains and buses are so clean and safe. I cannot believe that I only have two day left! At the beginning of my trip, it was hard to believe that I was going to stay for two and a half weeks. This trip has flown by so fast, but it is incredible that it feels like I have known my host family for years. I am going to miss them so so much, as they have made this already incredible experience even more exciting and special. by Katie Q - SHP'19
For the second week while in Spain with Alejandra's family, we went to Madrid for the weekend to see more typical places people from Spain go. I saw the King and Queen's palace and a very famous art museum of a private collection of a very rich family. It was really cool to see some famous paintings done by Monet and Vangough. I also shopped in the new part of Madrid with Ale's parents and had lunch in a famous restaurant where all the locals go. Then we flew back to Barcelona and I got to see Sagrada Familia with Ale and her parents. I was amazed at how big and beautiful it was. During the last week I'm here with Ale, we are staying at her country house to see more of Ale's friends, as well as Keemya and Sophia. This week we are relaxing by the beach and enjoying the nice weather and swimming in her pool. I have met more of Ale's cousins who are very nice and welcoming. They speak great English, but I'm also able to practice more Spanish with them, which is really fun. As the week ends I'm starting to think about my flight home and it makes me very sad to realize my time with Ale has gone by so quickly. by Katie Q - SHP'19
The moment I pass customs and get my bag I realize I'm screaming at the airport because I see Alejandra again. After my long day of traveling, I meet Ale's parents and brother and I see their apartment in a great location in the middle of beautiful Barcelona. Ale and I take a nap on their couch and then walk around Barcelona to see the city a bit. The next day Ale's mom, Ale, and I walk around Barcelona for the first time to see the gothic neighborhood, the Barcelona Cathedral, El Borne, see Santa Maria del Mar, and eat lunch in a restaurant by the beach. Since I arrived on a Thursday, we traveled to a village called Monells, where Ales parents own a house in the countryside on Friday night. While in the countryside, I met Ale's long-time friend and his family and we go to the beach on their boat. I saw and swam in the Mediterranean Sea for the first time, which was so warm and blue and beautiful, I was blown away. Then the next day Ales family and I went to visit her cousins who also have a house in a town near the beach and I experienced new Spanish foods with them. When we returned from the countryside, I met some of Ale's friends and saw Keemya and Sofia. We walked to the Sacred Heart School in Spain together and shopped around plaça catalunya the next day to see more of Barcelona. I've already been here for a week and I've already done many things that typical Barcelonians do. Specifically, experiencing new Spanish foods such as paella, crocketas, and fideguá, which are not eaten in America. Eating new foods had been very enjoyable for me since I love trying new things and experiencing the Spanish culture. I've only been here for a week but I already feel like I know how the Spanish live and what they like to do and go when they have free time from work. The language has been a challenge for me because the Spanish people talk so fast that I miss a lot of words, but luckily I can recognize some familiar ones. It's been hard hanging out with Ale's cousins and family friends because not many of them speak very good English so I am not totally comfortable there. However it's been nice that they try to speak English to me and her aunt and uncle made me feel more welcome in their home. By Lauren K. SHP '18 It has only been about five days, but I feel like I have been here for five months! Everyone is so kind, including my host family, that making friends was easy. Also, I feel like I am getting into a routine. I am even starting to understand where everything is in Auckland. At school, everyone loves asking me questions about the US and trying to imitate my “accent”. School has been quite similar to home. Everyone uses Macbooks, and I go to clases like Statistics, Biology, and Religious Education. My favorite parts about school so far are morning tea and also being with my host Hannah all day. The uniform is starting to grow on me. It actually keeps me pretty warm in Auckland’s 40 degree Fahrenheit weather, and it is easy to get up in the morning and go. This weekend, I went to One Tree Hill, which is a beautiful park. There were beautiful trees, plants, and animals all around the bottom. I saw sheeps and cows, which was quite different. It is quite a hike to the top, but it was 100% worth it. The view of Auckland was amazing! It is called One Tree Hill because there used to be one tree at the very top, however it was cut down by some activists. Now there is a memorial. We also went to the to top of the Sky Tower, another place with an incredible view of Auckland, and also the pier. I am having more fun than I ever imagined having. :)))
by Katie Q - SHP'19
Just two days before leaving for Spain to see Alejandra again, it hits me that I'm leaving my family and friends behind in Menlo Park. Every emotion I am aware of is occurring to me and I'm conflicted about how I feel about going on my big trip alone. I'm really sad to leave my family, I'm scared to travel alone for the first time, and I'm nervous to be staying with a family, whom I've not met yet, for two and a half weeks. However, I'm also happy and excited to see Alejandra again and experience a completely new and different part of the world. I have talked to Alejandra and her parents many times on the phone so I know they are going to be very welcoming and make me feel at home there in Barcelona with them. One thing that I'm the most nervous about is the language barrier. I know I've been taking Spanish classes since 6th grade but I am still not great at speaking and understanding words quickly. I am already aware that Spanish speaking people speak very quickly so I don't think I'm going to understand very much. However I know that Ale's parents and brother speak very good English so I am sure that they will speak good english to me and help to teach me more words in Spanish as well as helping them learn more English words. I'm very excited to experience the language in the real world not just in the classroom. By Lauren F - SHP'18 After many months of anticipation, I am finally going to Taiwan! I have packed and been talking with both my host students (Sammy and Barbie) and am so excited. Tomorrow at 4:30 AM, I will be leaving my house to catch my 6AM flight with Jetta C and Nia C. Jetta and I are spending the first few days touring Taiwan, specifically the Northeast Coast where we will be sight seeing. Then, Barbie is picking me up and I will be attending the Culture Camp.
Barbie will be hosting me at home and Sammy will be hosting me at school. This past spring, I hosted Sammy and a fellow classmate hosted Barbie, and I can't wait to reunite with them. They got to enjoy San Francisco, Half moon bay, and even spirit week. The roles have reversed and I am now beyond excited to participate in their activities and visit their favorite places in Taiwan. See you soon Sammy and Barbie! By Jetta C SHP'18 Tomorrows the big day!! My mom and I are heading to Taiwan early, along with Lauren F and Nia and I am so excited! Unfortunately our flight leaves at 6 am :( but other than that it's going to be great. I will attending the Chinese Culture Camp in Taipei, Taiwan and staying with Irene. My host student is going to be Ashley. We have been communicating via email so far and I can't wait to meet them in person. We arrive a few days before the actual camp starts, so we will be touring along the Northeast coast of Taiwan, hoping to see some cool rock formations and attend a traditional lantern lighting ceremony.
I am so psyched to be going on this trip! However, I am a little sad because I just got a new puppy, so I will be leaving him for a while :(. I have never been to Taiwan before, but I am excited to see what new adventures await me!!! I am off to go pack now, hopefully I don't forget anything! by Caitlyn P - SHP'18 Two days prior to my departure to Auckland, I had just landed at SFO. I had been in Boston for a soccer camp and had 1 full day between returning home and leaving again. Since I didn't leave until 9:45 pm on Wednesday, I saved my packing for that day. I had no idea what to bring. All I knew was that I was going to New Zealand, it's winter there, I might be playing water polo, and I need knee high black socks and black flats to accompany my new uniform. I basically smushed my whole winter wardrobe along with my water polo togs into my moms suitcases and headed to the airport. My dad has business in NZ and Australia at the same time so he flew with me. We landed, met our driver, and got to his hotel around 8:30 am on Friday (international date line). We both felt disgusting, and the Houlkers were not picking me up until 10:30, so we hit the gym and the spa to rid ourselves of the icky plane feeling. At 10:30, we met the Houlkers, Amelia and her mum Dan, in the lobby for some tea. They were both so nice but I felt like I was going to pass out. I was starving! Once we hit the road to Glendowie we stopped to get me some food, best cupcake ever. Then, after spending 20 at their cute house, I had to reorganize my clothes into my small suitcase as we were leaving that day for Lake Taupo four hours away. It was a lot of sitting, so Amelia and her sister Olivia spent the one teaching me the lingo. Lollies are candy, togs are anything you wear in the water, a jumper is anything you put on over a shirt to keep you warm, etc. Once in Taupo, which is freezing, about 4-10 degrees Celsius, we got burgers from the petrol station and I could only keep my eyes open until 8 pm. The rest of the weekend before their holidays ended we spent indoors mainly because it was quite stormy. Consequently, I got to enjoy lots of warm meals cooked by Dan. One day we went out on a geothermal walk to see bubbling mud and huka falls. Very exciting, bubbling mud. Finally, we headed home and I prepared for my first day of school.
by Nia C - SHP'18
I have 3 days before I leave for Taiwan and I am beyond excited to finally be able to join the culture camp there. The process of getting this trip together has been an unreal experience and I still can't really believe it is happening. As if a stroke of luck hit me I was able to attend the culture camp in Taiwan.The decision to attend this camp was a very quick and impactful decision, and everything since then has been very fast paced. I have had to get my passport and travel information together, let my boss know I'm leaving, buy uniforms, and make sure I am prepared to fly across the world all in about 5 days. A few bumps have popped up in the road for me like problems with my passport etc., but I won't let anything stand in my way and am beyond excited to leave in a few days. The fact that I leave for Taiwan the day after my birthday makes this whole situation so much more exciting. It's like my birthday present is my first stamp in my passport and 2 weeks away from home. Although I am looking forward to this trip I am a little nervous because this will be my first time traveling so far and for so long without my parents. This is also my first ever time being out of the United States and its territories. However, I won't let my nerves get me down. I am extremely thankful to everyone who has helped me to go on this trip especially my host family who was willing to host me for a few days before the camp starts and Ms. FP for having me in the back of her mind. |
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