sounds a bit boring. It connects you with the other boys and that way you make friends. If someone asks you to do something, just say yes, because it’s going to make you friends.” Hans says having a positive attitude was also vital for a successful OE. “At home we go to school for six hours, to learn our subjects. Whatever else you want to do, sports, clubs and so on, you arrange yourself in your free time. Here, College is a life in itself and
for many it is their life for the years they’re here, with sports and clubs all available.” Hans has had a good look around the South Island and toured the North Island before he left. “I’ve been lucky to have spent school holidays visiting school friends. One had a farm, so I could do all the farm stuff. In Germany we really do think New Zealand is one huge farm.” Hans has also been surprised by the New Zealand weather – and
how quickly and easily you can get sunburnt. “I expected there to be a lot more rain – more like England – and I was shocked when I arrived that it was 30 degrees, and I’d just come from minus 2 degrees.” While the food in New Zealand has surpassed his expectations, he is looking forward to German breakfasts again. “I’ve missed the German breads, especially the small white bread we have at breakfast.”
A tactical exchange
Year 12 student and passionate hockey player Liam Alexander took every opportunity to improve his game skills when he headed to Krefeld, Germany, on exchange in November. Awaiting him was host Julius Wirtz, a skilled striker on the field, who studied with him at Moltkeplatz School and introduced him to the local hockey club. Over the next two months while Liam stayed with the Wirtz family, he recovered from culture shock, ate lots of German food, learnt a tactical style of play, and gradually began to speak some German. “I learnt a little bit, but most people spoke some English. At school, I was able to follow my own timetable and take subjects like English and PE.” Training with the local hockey club, all indoor facilities because of the winter weather, the College 1st XI midfielder was introduced to a network of friends and a different style of play. “Because we were playing indoors the facility was smaller and the game became much more tactical than we play here.” Liam’s host family took him to Dusseldorf, Cologne and Berlin so he could experience as much as possible of Germany – and, although spending Christmas overseas in a totally foreign setting was a very different experience, he says he would recommend the exchange to anyone. Now Liam is looking forward to July when Julius comes to Christchurch, and hopefully lends his hockey skills to College and plays in the Rankin Cup competition.
College Issue 38 2020
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