Exchange Report 2026: A Round Square Student Exchange to Australia

As part of our school's Round Square programme, one of our students Victoire travelled to Sydney, Australia, to spend several weeks at Barker College. Here is her exchange report, in her own words.

My Expectations Before Leaving

From the very beginning, I was extremely excited about going to Australia. The idea of travelling all the way to the other side of the world and discovering a completely different country was something I found incredibly appealing. Before leaving, however, I did not have any particular expectations, as my knowledge of Australia was mostly based on the clichés I had grown up with, especially its association with surfing and its beautiful beaches. Rather than arriving with a fixed idea of what the country would be like, I was excited to experience it for myself and form my own opinion.

I had also spoken to my exchange partner, Amity, several times over the phone before our departure. We had already developed a good relationship, so I was particularly excited to finally meet her in person and spend several weeks together. I had also done some research about Barker College, the school I would be attending, and was very excited about the opportunity to experience life in such a prestigious and well-known school. I was even looking forward to wearing the school uniform, as it felt like a very tangible part of experiencing Australian school life.

The Journey In Australia

The journey to Australia was, unsurprisingly, very long and tiring. I had two consecutive flights to take: the first from Paris to Hong Kong, which lasted around 14 hours, followed by another 9-hour flight from Hong Kong to Sydney. Although the journey was exhausting, everything went very smoothly and the flights were very comfortable.

Fortunately, I was travelling with Julie, one of my classmates who was also taking part in the exchange. Having someone I knew with me made the long journey much more enjoyable, and we were able to share our excitement and anticipation about finally arriving in Australia.

Arrival in Sydney and a Warm Welcome

By the time we arrived in Sydney, I was completely exhausted, but I was immediately made to feel welcome by Ellen, Julie's exchange partner, and her father. As Amity was still flying back from Western Australia that day, where she had spent her holidays, I spent my first night at Ellen's house.

Despite being tired after such a long journey, I was incredibly excited to finally have my first glimpse of Sydney. We were driving to Ellen's house at around 9 p.m., and seeing the city illuminated at night was a beautiful first impression. Everything felt so different from home, and I remember already feeling excited about exploring the city properly in the weeks ahead.

Ellen was absolutely lovely, and her family were incredibly kind and welcoming. Even though I had only just arrived, they immediately made me feel comfortable, which made the transition into such a different environment much easier.

Meeting My Exchange Partner in Sydney

Amity is a very kind and caring person. She is funny, cheerful, and constantly radiates positivity. One of the things I particularly appreciated about her was her energy: she always seemed to have something to do and was constantly enthusiastic, yet she never allowed her busy schedule to stop her from making time for me. Throughout the exchange, she went out of her way to make sure I felt comfortable and included. At school, she would always help me find my way around and make sure I never felt lost or left out. When she had sports or other activities and could not accompany me home, she would explain exactly how to get back so that I felt confident making the journey on my own. Despite having so many commitments, including sports, activities, and homework, she always made time for us to explore Sydney together. It was also really special that Amity, Ellen, Julie, and I became a little group of four and were able to share so many experiences together.

We got along extremely well throughout the exchange, and I am genuinely grateful for everything Amity did to make my stay so enjoyable. Having someone as welcoming and positive as my exchange partner made a huge difference to my experience.

Daily Life at Barker College, Sydney

One of the most memorable parts of the exchange was experiencing everyday life at Barker College. Julie and I attended school on most days of the week, and we found the experience fascinating. Barker College is an enormous and impressive school, and the staff were incredibly welcoming and helpful. They made a real effort to help us settle in, understand how everything worked and feel like part of the school community. I particularly enjoyed being immersed in the Australian education system and experiencing the differences between school life in Australia and in France. It was also a great opportunity to meet new people and make friends outside of our usual social circles.

Julie and I were able to attend French class together because both Amity and Ellen had chosen French as one of their electives. It was quite amusing to find ourselves sitting in a French classroom all the way in Australia! We even had the opportunity to teach some Year 8 students ourselves. One of the girls from that class and I have actually remained in contact, as she is interested in learning more about life in Paris, which I find really special. Julie and I also had the opportunity to choose a different elective from our exchange partners. We chose iSTEAM, a subject combining elements of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. We particularly enjoyed the practical and creative side of the subject. Our teacher, Mr Barden, was extremely kind and made a real effort to include us in the class. One of the projects we worked on involved designing our own turbine blades, which we then 3D-printed and were able to bring home with us. It was a very hands-on experience and one of the highlights of our time at school, as it allowed us to learn something completely new while actually creating something ourselves.

Exploring Sydney and the Blue Mountains

Outside of school, Julie and I took one or two days off each week to explore Sydney. We visited Manly, the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Sydney Opera House, The Rocks, Darling Harbour and many other parts of the city. Some of these simple days were actually among my favourite memories of the exchange. There was something really special about wandering around Sydney with a friend, discovering new places and finding our way around a city that was thousands of kilometres away from home. We also visited the aquarium, Taronga Zoo and the Art Gallery of New South Wales. The aquarium and zoo gave us the opportunity to discover more about Australia's unique wildlife, while the art gallery allowed us to explore a different aspect of Australian culture and artistic heritage. Another unforgettable experience was our day in the Blue Mountains. Amity and Ellen took a day off school on a Friday so that they could take us hiking. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, and being surrounded by such vast and beautiful landscapes was a completely different experience from exploring the city. It was one of the moments when I really appreciated how diverse Australia is, with such a striking contrast between the urban environment of Sydney and its surrounding natural landscapes.

Discovering Australian Food and Culture

Of course, food was equally important in discovering Australian culture! We tried lots of different foods and experiences, including teppanyaki with Amity and Ellen. It was particularly memorable because of the entertaining way the food was prepared, including having pieces of food thrown at us to catch in our mouths. We also went to an Australian pub, which reminded me quite a lot of the pubs I had experienced in the UK. We tried several Australian specialities, but I have to admit that Vegemite was definitely not for me, as I found the taste far too strong! On the other hand, I really enjoyed fairy bread, meat pies and lamingtons. One of our greatest discoveries, however, was Yo-Chi, an Australian frozen-yoghurt chain. Julie and I became completely obsessed with it and would go almost every day without fail. We loved being able to choose our own frozen yoghurt and then add different toppings, making each bowl completely different. It became such a regular part of our routine that we both miss it very much now that we are back home!

We also had the opportunity to attend an AFL game with some of Amity's friends from school. It was a great way to experience an important part of Australian sporting culture, and we had a lot of fun supporting the Sydney Swans. It was very nice to spend time with Amity's friends and get to know more people from her life at school.

Reflecting on My Exchange Experience

Looking back on my exchange, I feel incredibly grateful to have been given the opportunity to travel all the way to Australia and experience life in such a different environment. Staying with Amity and her family allowed me not only to discover a new country, but also to experience it from a local perspective rather than simply as a tourist.

The exchange helped me become more independent, particularly because I had to adapt to a new school, a new family, a different education system and a new city. Exploring Sydney with Julie also gave me more confidence in finding my way around and making decisions independently. At the same time, meeting so many new people at Barker College helped me become more comfortable socially and pushed me outside of my usual environment. More than anything, I think the exchange taught me the value of immersing yourself in another culture. Rather than simply visiting Australia, I was able to experience what everyday life there was like: going to school, meeting friends, trying local food, attending an AFL game, exploring the city and spending time with an Australian family. These experiences gave me a much deeper understanding of the country than I could have gained from simply travelling there on holiday.

I came back with countless memories, as well as friendships that I hope will last for many years. I am especially grateful to Amity and her family for welcoming me into their home and making me feel so comfortable throughout my stay. I am now really looking forward to welcoming Amity to France and showing her my life in Paris, just as she showed me hers in Sydney. I also can’t wait to see Ellen again and continue the friendship we created during what was truly an unforgettable experience.