On the road
06 Apr 2018
College’s international students enjoyed a great southern road trip during the Easter break, taking in some of the South Island’s most scenic sights and having a whole lot of fun along the way.
International Student Manager Deanne Gath says the trip is a great way to show the boys more of the country and enhance their boarding experience, as well as giving them time to get to know each other and talk about some of the common issues they face as new residents in what can often feel like a strange land. “We want to look after our international students and it’s really exciting being able to offer a trip like this, as it gives our senior international students opportunities to mentor and support their new peers.”
The boys took part in a wide range of activities, both action-packed and relaxed, and also had plenty of time to hang out, maybe play a game of football, or simply chill.
It was Year 10 student Nikolas Fritsch’s first time visiting the area. He thought the lakes and mountains were spectacular and particularly enjoyed seeing dolphins at Milford Sound. Year 12 student Mark Ma says he loved the thrill of sky diving and bungy jumping, while Year 13 student Junie Wee says one of his highlights was seeing the Te Anau Glowworm Caves and visiting Fiordland National Park. All three say it was a fantastic trip.
Mark and Junie have both been at College for several years. As “old hands” they were able to give valuable advice to the new international students and say the trip was as much about making friends as about sightseeing. “It was great, especially for the new boys, to be able to discuss how they are feeling after their first term at College,” says Mark. “We could talk to them about how to deal with boarding and school life and suggest strategies they might use to help them cope with things like homesickness, culture shock and the language barrier. The best part of the trip for me was to be away with such a special group of people.”
The boys left on Wednesday 28 March, travelling to Queenstown, Te Anau, Dunedin, Twizel and Mount Cook, before returning to College on Tuesday 3 April. They were accompanied by teacher Eloise Nevin and her husband Andy, and the trip was arranged in association with Smylies Tours.
