On the Flip Side: Reflections from Our Crescent Hosts

Grade 11 Crescent students Alex Ernst and Thomas Vesey played hosts to their New Zealand exchange partners, Joseph and Charlie, when the two boys visited Crescent earlier this month. Alex and Thomas, who travelled to Westlake Boys High School in Auckland, New Zealand, in March 2023, shared what it's like to be on the flip side of Crescent’s International Student Exchange Program. 

 

Thomas, who hosted Charlie, says the experience made him “become so mindful of everything (he did)” in terms of “having someone basically shadow your daily routine.” He also enjoyed the reverse cultural experience that “pointing everything out” to Charlie when navigating a new school, city, and country gave him.

 

Alex realized a newfound appreciation for local experiences that he might otherwise have taken for granted. “It’s nice getting to do extra stuff like taking Joseph to a Blue Jays game, Canada’s Wonderland, and the aquarium.” He was looking forward to showing Joseph the Horseshoe Falls at Niagara, where they might even glimpse New York State from across the lake. 

 

“Keep an open mind” is Thomas’ advice for future student exchange program participants. For him, that meant learning to adapt to a newcomer in his daily routine. Empathizing with Charlie’s adjustment to everyday life in Canada really helped him to engage in, and thrive from, his hosting experience. 

 

“Don’t hold any specific expectations,” of the exchange experience, says Alex. He approached all the activities and adventures with equal enthusiasm and tried to avoid over-planning his free time with Joseph. This added to the boys’ excitement and enjoyment of their shared journeys.