Restoring my soul.

The World is your oyster. This saying has been told to many young man and woman over the centuries, giving them a blessing to move on with their adult lives and build and grow a future without boundaries.

This past week and for the coming two weeks my family are learning just how small our World is.  We are currently hosting two young men from Estancia High School, Costa Mesa California on an exchange program with our Secondary College at Hoppers Crossing.

My eldest son is applying to go on exchange in the coming January 2016 Summer holidays, so he can share his experiences with future generations of exchange students.

The exchange program enables a small group of students to put their sales and marketing skills to the test by creating a presentation to sell themselves to a selection panel on why they would be the best representative of the school to travel across the world and talk about our community.  The students sit through panel interviews and selection tests to be chosen.  It is an amazing experience for the chosen few and sparks a light in the minds of those students still to come up for eligibility.

The American exchange students stay with host families and are subject to many uniquely Australian experiences.  A trip to the Ballarat Wildlife Sanctuary to visit with kangaroos and koalas followed by a visit to Sovereign Hill to taste our Gold Rush history.

They travelled the Great Ocean Road and enjoyed the sights of the now Four Apostles (there once upon a time were 11) and the broken London Bridge (thanks to erosion).  They saw koala’s in the wild and froze in the winter winds, but came home invigorated and excited for what else there is to come.

Speaking of tastes – Vegemite on toast is the first trial they face when becoming a “true Aussie”.  We haven’t had much success with this one, but you never know our next visitor may break the mould.  Kangaroo meat and Pavlova are also on the list of delicacies we offer.  A lucky few get to try Wichetty Grubs and Honey Ants courtesy of our Indigenous Community.

We are having loads of fun and learning a lot from our young people.  It is an enriching experience and very packed itinerary for the three weeks.  Time comes and goes in a whirlwind of activities and presentations, just as soon as they get here it feels like they are flying home again.

I will keep you posted of our upcoming adventures.