Two students have jetted into Scone from Hamburg this year.
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Vivien Carstens of Hamburg, Germany and Jessica Rote from Hamburg, New York are both students at Scone High School as part of an international exchange program.
Jessica arrived three months ago and has another three month stay in Scone before her next shift to Lake Macquarie as part of a Rotary exchange program.
“Australia or New Zealand were my two top picks so I was delighted when I found out I was coming to Australia,” Jessica said.
“I live in a medium sized town in New York called Hamburg that has a population of around 56,000 people.
“It hasn’t been a huge culture shock for me so far, but I have found everyone to be so nice and have been able to make friends really quickly.
“When I leave I want to take home a huge Australian flag signed by all the new friends I’ve made along the way,” she said.
German exchange student Vivien Carstens has been with the same family since February and will spend her first ‘hot’ Christmas in Australia before going home in the New Year.
“I have only had good experiences here.
“My host family is wonderful, people are so relaxed, laid back, open and nice.
“There are lots of nice people in Germany too but it’s very different.
“Teachers in Germany aren’t as ‘sassy’ and don’t joke around like Australian teachers do.
“I like the way Australian teachers and students are more relaxed around each other,” she said.
“I think I have changed a lot since I arrived, my English has definitely improved which is a bonus.”
Both students said they loved studying at Scone High School and were ‘loving’ living in Scone.