Australia High School Testimonial

Adventure of a lifetime - By Monika Biedak
To most teenagers, travelling halfway across the world to be immersed in a foreign culture may seem like a daunting prospect. But, for German born Hanna Koch, when the opportunity arose to do just that, she jumped on it without hesitation.

“It didn't take me long to make my decision,” says Hanna.

“When I found out about the possibility of going abroad, it didn't take me more than a minute to realise that I really wanted to do something adventurous.

“Of course learning English also played a part in the decision making process – I just wanted to experience something that was different from my usual life.”

She says the decision to choose Australia came from a long held interest in the country.

“I had the choice to go to England or Australia, so I chose Australia. Its distance as well as the climate enticed me. Australia had always fascinated me, not just the beautiful beaches, but also the people living there and their mentality.”

Looking back on her experiences as a student in Australia, Hanna is full of fond memories.

While spending the majority of her time in Brisbane, Queensland, the grade 12 student says she was also fortunate enough to get a glimpse of other parts of the country - including Sydney, Noosa, Fraser Island, Cairns and the Gold Coast.

Although unable to pinpoint her most memorable experience during her six-month stay, Hanna says what she valued most was the opportunity to experience Australia from a different point of view.

“I didn’t feel like a tourist at all. As a student, I got the chance to view things from a totally unique perspective.

“If I had the chance to do it all over again, I would.”