EXCHANGES The right choice
He came to experience a different culture, to learn to speak English well, and to play rugby – and Hans Koch went home to Potsdam, Germany, in December having ticked all the boxes “and so much more” and after “a really great year.” One of College’s accomplished international students, Hans spent Year 11 in School House, and was just 15 when he made the decision to move down under. His older brother had spent a year in North Carolina, USA, and Hans wanted his own unique overseas experience. “When we met [International Student Manager] Deanne Gath in Germany, my parents were impressed. She basically convinced me College was the place for me, and I’m pleased I made the right choice.” German perceptions of New Zealand as basically one huge farm with hundreds of thousands of sheep were quickly dispelled. As was the notion that “you didn’t have good food. The food has been great, I really like lamb.” “I think New Zealand is a unique place to be – it has a lot of Asian influences and a lot of Asian people, as well as the Maori race and its culture and history, and it has rugby.” Hans was a prop in the U16A team and loved being able to play weekly in a full team against competent opposition. He also loved following the All Blacks and the Crusaders.
“In Germany the rugby community is incredibly small. But my father played rugby and it appealed to me straightaway after I found I was too slow to play hockey well.” When he returns to high school in Potsdam, Hans expects to be ahead in some subjects and behind in others. “I haven’t done Latin, Spanish, Biology, Geography and Politics here, so I will have to catch up, but in Chemistry, History and Physics, I expect to be fine – and, of course, I should be ahead in English.” Hans has barely a trace of a German accent, so well has he picked up the Kiwi accent and vernacular. And with nine years of English study behind him, Hans was already fluent
when he arrived and has become even more proficient after living in a boarding House. “That was an entirely new experience for me and, looking back to the beginning of my year here, I wish I’d got more involved more quickly. My advice is to join in with everything, even if it
“ College is a life in itself and for many it is their life for the years they’re here. ” Hans Koch
Christ’s College Canterbury
48
Made with FlippingBook Annual report