"We came as visitors and we left as friends."   

Barrington Municipal High School

What an experience!  

Basically, we hadn't really known what to expect?  

It had all started off with Mrs. Greven going to Nova Scotia last year with a friend of hers who had mentioned that a school in New Glasgow was interested in some kind of school exchange. First arrangements were made, but everything turned out to be quite different. The Canadian school couldn't find enough students to take part in the programme and so Barrington Municipal High School in the south west of Nova Scotia stepped in. We knew that this was the prettier area of the peninsular and so we didn't mind.  

We arrived in Halifax late at night to find a school bus and some of our exchange partners waiting to take us to Barrington. It was slightly crammed with our luggage on and under seats, but we knew that the trip would "only" last another three hours. Our host families were waiting for us: a welcome hug and then off to bed.  

Some hours later, and after a very short sleep, we had our first day at the school. Everything was quite different from what we are used to: the building is only three years old. All classrooms are equipped with computers and beamers. Every student has got his own locker. The teachers have their own rooms and the students have to move around. The school day begins with the Canadian National Anthem? 

We were introduced to the school community and soon we were taking part in lessons. Ms. Hanley and Ms. McNeil had arranged the exchange programme - and what a schedule it was: a bus trip to a local museum, a sea weed farm and a lobster farm, driving past amazing sea landscapes; ice skating; sports activities at school (Kin ball!); an ice hockey match of the "Mooseheads" in Halifax (their stars move on into the NHL); a pizza evening; pumpkin carving; an international dance; a beach party on pure white sands; and, of course, whale watching in the Atlantic Ocean - an unforgettable experience! 

Cynthia Duncan, the International Student Relations (ISR) co-ordinator, had done an excellent job in matching the partners and finding the most warm-hearted families for us. They made us feel like family members and showed us what life in Nova Scotia was really like. Most of our families were in some way involved in fishing, catching haddock, swordfish, halibut and, of course, lobster - Barrington being the capital of lobster fishing in Canada.  

Dave Buckland, the Principal of BMHS, and his staff were always supportive. He made sure that our exchange was a success and ensured us that he, too, will do everything to turn this first visit into a long-term partnership with our school. At the end of our stay he told his school community that "They came as visitors and are leaving as friends." And that is exactly how we feel, too. We want this exchange to be a success, we want it to develop into something permanent and we would like our school communities to grow together.  

We are looking forward to our Canadian friends coming over to visit us next year so that we can return at least some of the hospitality they showed to us.  

We send them greetings and our heartfelt thanks for a "once in a lifetime" trip. 

H.L.