Jack Riley ’24
The summer exchange program at EA is back and in full swing. Each year, a couple of EA students travel to either South Africa or Australia and live with another host family. They stay with their exchange partner for 6-8 weeks in July and August, during which they attend school and become immersed in their culture. During the fall, their exchange partners join the EA community from October to November. The hope is that after the exchange is over, both students leave with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the other’s culture.
Khoa Tran ’24, who went on an exchange to South Africa last year, believes, “Getting the opportunity to experience a completely different culture than my own was eye-opening. It’s the type of experience that you can only gain from living there for an extended period of time.” He adds, “Introducing my exchange partner to America and the EA community was also great. He made friends and really enjoyed his time here.”
Similarly, alumnus Alec Riley ’22 shared, “My summer exchange program was an unforgettable experience. The memories I made, the friendships I formed, and the lessons I learned during my summer in South Africa will stay with me for a lifetime. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed with open arms by my host family and immediately accepted by the other students at The Bishop’s School.”
Riley continues, “The exchange was also very informative. I learned firsthand about the cultural diversity and troubling history of South Africa. I also got to engage in community projects which further deepened my understanding of global issues and broadened my horizons.”
Regarding his thoughts about traveling across the world, Riley comments, “I was a little nervous at first. I left the comfort of my home to live with people I had never met before. But my worries were instantly quelled when I met my exchange family and arrived on campus. Everyone made me feel at home and I instantly felt comfortable.”
Although the exchange program can be a substantial financial commitment, EA has made efforts to reduce costs. The schools charge no fees for the South Africa and Australia exchange program and all books will be provided. Additionally, the EAPA allows exchange students to EA to borrow uniform pieces from their Thrift Shop for the duration of their stay. That is not to say that the cost of taking care of another student, as well as plane tickets, do not add up.
It is also important to note the role and responsibilities of the hosting families. Beyond just housing and feeding the exchange student, host families are encouraged (but not required) to show students areas beyond Philadelphia like New York and Washington D.C. The exchange student should be treated as any other member of the family and be given the same responsibilities as the others. Reflecting on the hosting experience, Aiden Tsaturyan ’25, who hosted an exchange student from South Africa last year, stated, “It’s such a unique experience; you never could never expect how much having an exchange student would change the everyday life in an out of the house. It’s like having another sibling that you can connect with.”
Photo Courtesy of Elizabeth Doyle