Seitoku High School - Tokyo, Japan
Students from Tokyo Seitoku High School at Kelston Girls' College taking part in their annual international student programme.
Nagoya High School Students
Sakurako , Moeka , Hitomi , Saki and Mao.
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I had a great time at Kelston Girls' College. I enjoyed the experience of a different culture with things like different lunch food and classes. It was good for me.
Thank you very much!
Hitomi Kuroda
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Hello Girls!!
I had a good time at Kelston Girls' College. You were very kind to us. I am glad I came here. I can't thank you enough. I want to come back here.
Mao
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I had a good time at Kelston Girls' College. I was very happy in this school life. I return to Japan with fond good memories. I love this school!! Thank you so much.
Sakurako Tatsa
Ebba Kihlberg - Swedish Exchange Student
Wow! This Journey has been Amazing! I’m so happy that I chose to go on an AFS student exchange to New Zealand and that I got placed here in Auckland to attend Kelston Girls’ College.
It was hard to leave my life back in Sweden and start a new one here. But I would never have made it without the warm welcome you gave me here at school. I got help from both staff and students that showed me the way to class and explained everything that I couldn’t understand. To be surrounded by this lovely atmosphere helped me to grab hold of happiness and just enjoy new experiences while I discovered your country from north to south and all of your cultures, like I wanted to do!
At this school I got to experience a different kind of school with only girls and school uniforms, which I’m not used to. And on top of that opportunity I was able to try new things like school activities and different subjects. It has been a lot of fun. I sold some photographs at the Arts festival and I made the dress I wore to an amazing night at the school ball. So Yes, I have got heaps of memorable moments that I will keep with me forever!
Outside school I got other fun experiences such as AFS camps, surf trip and a fantastic South Island Tour. I also got a whole new family experience. My host family has been great. We have had a lot of fun and I’m really happy that I got to stay with them and share my experiences with them during this year. I have been on holidays with them around New Zealand and I’m now looking forward to celebrate my first summer Christmas with them.
The land of the Kiwis is now inside of me. I have grown much as a person and parts of me are even born here. I’m really grateful for everything! I don’t want to leave New Zealand, I just wish that I was able to put this beautiful country, my host family and all my friends in a bag to bring back with me home to Sweden!
Thank you so much!
Maiko Ogata from Shigakukan High School in Japan
I am enjoying my study abroad at Kelston Girls’ College. I’ve got many nice friends and pleasant experiences.This is my first time of studying abroad. Of course I was worrying about everything. However everyone is really nice and friendly. When I lost way at the school, this school’s student said “Are you okay?” and she showed me the way.
When I had personal issues my teachers tried to fix it for me. And one of them said “I’m your school mother, if you have any problems, some to talk to me. I’ll fix it.”I have got a big family at Kelston Girls. This school is like my family for me.
My best memory is the school ball. It was for the first time in my life because there is no school ball in Japan. This school ball was for Kelston Girls and Kelston Boys schools. Dancing, eating and chatting was quite fun and I loved it so much
I am part of the badminton club. Again it was my first time. However, my friends and coaches taught me the skills carefully and I made a lot of friends there.
I enjoyed the senior social with my friends. It was really fun. Everyone was wearing mufti to school that night. There were nice dances, good music and spotlights. It was really awesome I felt like it was all in my dream actually. Dance is quite rare in Japan so I didn’t even know how to dance. However my friends taught me how to dance and they had a dance with me too.
I have a best friend in Kelston Girl’s college. She is very kind and nice to me. And we have hung out at many places in New Zealand. When I came to New Zealand, I couldn’t even listen to English properly. However she tried to speak slowly and listen very carefully to my poor English to understand and if my English was wrong she tried to teach me correct English.
My English is improving through my friends help. I’m so happy with this environment. I have to leave New Zealand soon. However I don’t want to go back to Japan so soon. I love my friends, teacher, host family and this school. I have had a very nice experience in New Zealand. Maiko Ogata.
Tokyo Seitoku High School Students
3 students from Tokyo Seitoku High School attended Kelston Girls' College in Term 1. Initially the students were very nervous and shy, but that soon changed as time went on. They had their first introduction to Maori culture by attending a powhiri to welcome them to our school.as well as spending a day in our maori class learning how to weave, singing songs both in Maori and Japanese and simple greetings. A fun day was had by all.....
Some of their comments about their time at Kelston Girls' College :
* the students were very kind* teachers were helpful
* we loved the tuckshop* it was a bit hard to understand some of the teachers because English is not our first language
* host family were very kind and took us to lots of places
* we enjoyed our time at Kelston Girls' College, and do not want to go back to Japan
Fukuoka High School
Fukuoka High School is the sister school of Kelston Girls' College. A small group of 12 students visited us for 3 weeks.
They were immersed in English study most mornings and then going into our mainstream classes with their "buddies". Each student had a buddy to show them around the school and sit with them in class.
The girls' enjoyed their experience at Kelston Girls' and the school with be returning next year. The students from Fukuoka experienced horse riding for the first time along with kayaking, and exploring the beaches of West Auckland
Shigakukan High School
Hi, I’m Rikako. I’m from Japan. I came to Kelston Girls’ College to study English for one year but I have to go back to Japan soon. My English was very bad but at this school the teachers and students were so kind to me. I had a good time in this school. I want to say to everyone, thank you very much. I will never forget this year. I will miss you everyone.
Thank you,
Rikako Kato
Paraguya
Ola! Mi nombre es Karen, yo vengo de Paraguay, sur de America y estoy en Kelston Girls’ College hace 9 meses.
Hello! My name is Karen. I come from Paraguay South America and I am in Kelston Girls’ College since the beginning of the year. Being in Kelston Girls’ College was a good opportunity for me to learn about your wonderful NZ culture and meet new people. Therefore I was able to learn the English language. I enjoyed so much my stay in New Zealand an in Kelston Girls’ College. So, now I would like to say thank you to Kelston Girls’ College in particular the teachers and my friends who showed incredible patience towards me and I will forever appreciate your help.
Muchas gracias.Thank you very much
Karen Giacomelli
Nagoyi High School - Japan
Comments from Nagoyi High School students :
I appreciate your many kindnesses to me. My best memory is talking with you happily. I had a good time. I want to come here again. I wish, finally to thank you all. Arisa Masuda
I had a good time at Kelston Girls' College. I was nervous everyday. But my classmates and friends were always kind to me. So I really enjoyed this school life. I was very happy to come to Kelston Girls' College. I will never forget this experience. Kayo Takikawa
I came from Japan. I had a really good time here. I have made a lot of friends!! They were so kind and friendly. I want to keep in contact forever with them. I will never forget the time. Erika
Taishi High School - Japan
Comments from Taishi High School students :
Students were friendly and I had great days.I will never forget my time at Kelston Girls' College. Thank you. Shiori
I have learned a lot of things which I cannot learn in Japan.I enjoyed very much when Maori students taught me their songs or dances.I will miss the tuck shop hot cookies!! Thank you. Shiho
The three weeks I spent at Kelston Girls' College was meaningful. The most impressive experience for me was the lesson about Maori culture. I was glad when Maori students welcomed us with Maori dance. I will study English harder so that I can return. Thank you. Maiko
Teachers and students of Kelston Girls' College were all very kind and humorous. So I could enjoy my school days. I had a great time and I owe it all to you. Thank you very much, see you again. Yuki
When I couldn’t understand my buddy’s English, she talked to me slowly or sometimes spoke in Japanese that she has just learned in her Japanese class. I was very happy. Thank you. Risa
