I’m 17 years old and I come from Atlanta, Georgia in the U.S.A. I’m taking courses in Japanese and Mathematics at year 11, Maori Performing Arts, Mathematics and Economics at Year 12 and Film and Television and Journalism at Year 13. Journalism is cool and so is Japanese. I really like learning about Maori Culture. I’ve visited a Marae, been to a Hangi and learnt how to participate in a Powhiri (formal welcome). I have a good home-stay family in Miramar in the Eastern Suburbs of Wellington, great people, great food. Wellington High School is a cool school, very liberal.
The time I have spent in New Zealand and attending Wellington High School has without a doubt been the best 3 months of my life. There is no doubt in my mind that choosing to go on this exchange program to Wellington was the best decision I ever made. I flew about 18 hours from my hometown, San Antonio, Texas to get here. Little did I know what I was in for.
I’m Beau Larson and I come from a small country in northern Minnesota only about an hour away form Canada. The main town is Grand Marais and it is located right on Lake Superior. It’s a major fishing and logging town. It is also a very touristy town in the summer. I live right outside of the town about a 20 minutes drive.
The actual town has a population of about 1,300 people so it was a major change moving to Wellington for a foreign exchange.