Meet our Foreign Exchange Students

Sary Sigrest

Hi! I’m Sary, an exchange student from Switzerland. I’m staying here in Hamilton for two months at Isa de Bruijn’s. So far I really like this new lifestyle, this new town and this new country!

My host family is very kind, I’m so lucky and so grateful. I’m here to learn English but also to live an amazing experience. In Switzerland I dance and in Winter I really love snowboarding and skiing (my two favorite pastimes)! But here I’ve just started going to the gym. Otherwise, I also like reading, listening to music, fashion, going to parties and spending time with my friends and my family which is made up of two older brothers and one little sister and my two

parents.

Until now I have seen so many differences between Switzerland and NZ. The ones that have struck me most are about the school system: Here we have 5 different subjects whereas in Switzerland we have around 15. Here, lessons start at 9am and finish at 2pm-3pm whereas we start at 8am and often finish at 5pm. And we only have a 40-minute break at lunchtime.

But it’s also the goal of this exchange to discover a different culture and new traditions! I’m so looking forward to spending time here and discovering a lot of new things.

Eline Müller

My name is Eline Müller, I am 17 years old and I am an exchange student from Switzerland, a small country in Europe between France, Germany and Italy. I am currently staying at Olivia Mills’ in Tamahere, which is a lovely home with two cats and a large garden.

I am staying here for two months but the first two weeks I have been here have gone really well! People are very kind and welcoming and school is much better in Hillcrest than back in Switzerland. I’ve only recently realised that I wanted to do an exchange when I saw how many of my friends were actually doing one. It can be really scary sometimes, getting out of your comfort zone and being away from your family for quite a long time, but I promise, it’s worth going overseas.

In Switzerland, I used to play the piano and started the violin (which I have to play in my basement, otherwise my mum won’t let me), and I am playing handball in a small club. Do you know what handball is ? Look it up online ! I have a younger and an older sister, so I am in the middle, which is quite an advantage.

There are some differences between these two countries, for example the school uniform or the fact that you drive left and we drive right. But otherwise, New Zealand is quite similar to Switzerland, maybe even a bit better :)

Louisa Laeticia Dupriez

Z- What’s your name, age and class?

L- My name is Louisa Laeticia Dupriez but in Schoology it’s Du Priez -_- I

am 16 yo and I’m in year 12.

Z-Where do you come from and what do you speak?

L- I’m from Switzerland but my father is French and my mother is

Russian. I speak French, Russian, English (B2 level), German (B1 level)

and I’m learning Spanish in Duolingo.

Z- Why did you come here and how?

L- I’m here for 2 months to learn English and I came here with the help

of Arpel association.

Z-What are your hobbies?

L- I am a hip-hop dancer, I also du trapeze in a circus. I play piano and in

2 years (if I don’t fail my exams) I can be a piano teacher. I also like

skiing (freestyle skiing)

Z- What does your family in Switzerland look like?

L- I have a mom (Svetlana) and a dad (Pierre-Jean). I also have a

Maltese bichon dog (Max), a brother (Arthur, 12yo, looking for a

girlfriend?!), a black cat (Bayoune), about 15-20 fish

Z- What do you think about my family? (Zaria’s family)

L- I love your family, they are so nice. Your mom does the best hugs and

I love judging (in a good way) the Olympic athletes with them.