With his son having a ball on an exchange program to Australia, writer and journalist Gus Silber once again realises how much the world has changed since he was a child. He explains:
When I was in primary school, years before the Internet brought the world into our homes, I used to love reading books about children growing up in countries far from my home.
Through words and pictures, I would acquaint myself with the everyday lives of children in Alaska, Bangladesh, China, Norway, Japan, and more. What struck me was how different their worlds were from mine, at the southern tip of Africa, and yet how much their daily routine was the same.
They went to school, played games with their friends, sat around the table for dinner, did their homework, read books, went to bed. They were nothing like me, and everything like me.
Now I have children of my own, and their world is a world without boundaries, a world of seamless, instant communication and connection across cultures. But still, there is no greater teacher of the experience of change, than change itself.
My son Max, 16, is learning that for himself as an exchange scholar in Sydney, Australia, far from his home in Johannesburg.
This is his dispatch from an ocean and a world away:
The first thing that struck me as a little unusual about my new school in Sydney, Australia, was the helicopter dangling from the ceiling.
It wasn’t a toy or a model, it was the real thing, donated for display in the Science Centre by Dick Smith, a famous Australian entrepreneur and aviator.
The helicopter is meant to inspire boys at King’s School in Parramatta, near Sydney, to consider careers in engineering or science. But when I look at that beautiful flying machine, I also think about the long journey of change that I’ve taken from my home in Johannesburg.
I am a Grade 10 scholar at St Stithians Boys College, and I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to be a Kings School year 10 exchange student for seven weeks.
After being told that I was going to embark on my exchange trip to live with an Aussie family who I had never met or spoken to before, I had mixed feelings of excitement and apprehension.
Thoughts of the Crocodile Hunter, deadly creatures, and the Great Barrier Reef – as well as fake rugby – popped into my head. I’m sure that when my exchange buddy heard that he’d be going to South Africa later in the year, he also had some apprhensive thoughts.
Something alone the lines of crime, lions and elephants in the streets, and living in the middle of the African bush for seven weeks when he comes to stay with my family.
My trip to Australia was planned perfectly. I just missed writing my mid year exams by three days. Phew! Thankfully, two of my close mates were also going to the same exchange school as me, so I knew I wasn’t going to be completely out of my element when I went down under.
After a few weeks at King’s, I can tell you that change is exciting, especially when you’re a teenager adapting to a different way of life, far away from home.
The first and most obvious difference I noticed when I met my Aussie host family was their accents. I was introduced my exchange buddy, James, and I naturally said “ Howzit Bruh”. To which he replied, “ How ya going mate?”
I had to pause and think about what he’d just asked me, and after a few awkward seconds, I said, “Yah, good.” With that out of the way, my Aussie adventure began in all earnest.
After settling in, I was told that James and I would be catching a bus to school every day. This was a big culture shock, because back home, we have a lift scheme, and I can’t remember ever catching a bus.
But the next day, we caught the bus on time, with no hassle, and we arrived at school on schedule, with barely any traffic along the way. And certainly no minibus taxis weaving in and out of the traffic.
On arriving at King’s School, I instantly noticed two things. One, the school is massive and extremely fancy. Two, all the boys look like soldiers, with their short hair, long blue pants with red stripes, blue shirt and smart blazers with shiny polished buttons. Well, that’s what I was wearing too, so I fitted right in!
I’m used to sitting down in my classes and taking out my textbook and writing-book for the lesson, while my teacher scribbles work on the whiteboard for us to copy.
At Kings I sat down, reclined my chair to my preferred height, took out the MacBook Pro that the school kindly provides for all students, and proceeded to open my textbook on my laptop.
I signed in to a student online account called iLearn, which tells you what you needs to complete for the lesson and provides links to websites. I must admit I was tempted to use the really fast WiFi to watch YouTube videos and Google random things. But instead, I got down to work.
What do I miss most about South Africa? I miss that special South African vibe. South Africans are joyful and friendly and will always find something to be happy about.
The second thing I miss about South Africa is the Rand. Everything is so expensive for us South Africans here, and the Australian dollar just thinks it owns the world.
One night I went out with a group of mates to a mall to watch a movie and have dinner. It was a great evening, but at the end of the night what we spent between the five of us came to more than R3,000! So if you’re a South African in Australia, you won’t get much change for your money.
I haven’t been out much since then, at least not to the mall. But I certainly have been outdoors. Sydney is a great city for sport and the beach and exotic birdlife. There are parrots and cockatoos flying freely all over the suburbs.
Another thing I’ve noticed after being here for four weeks, is that Australians love their exotic food. We may be the Rainbow Nation, but the Aussies are very multicultural when it comes to cuisine.
I have already tried Chinese, Thai, Japanese and Portuguese food. I am, however, beginning to crave Biltong, Braais, and Wors.
Still, there is an old saying that goes: a change is as good as a holiday. I’m not on holiday – the schoolwork and the extracurricular activities are keeping me very busy – but I have learned that change is good.
It’s good to move out of your familiar environment, and experience something different to your everyday routine. But what I am also learning, is that people all the way on the other side of the world are not all that different to us.
We may speak with different accents and wear different uniforms and eat different food. But the world has become a small place because of the Internet, and we have more in common with each other than we may think.
I’m enjoying my this experience and I’m looking forward to introducing my Aussie mate, James, to the South African way of life, and showing him just why a little change and exchange can be so good for you!
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