Sabrina (South Africa): During our second week here in Australia, all the exchange students went on an amazing adventure to Sydney. It was full of new experiences, learning, laughter and fun.
Firstly, we visited wonderful, famous landmarks such as Bondi Beach, getting to meet the popular lifeguards. We went on a tour of the beautiful Sydney Opera House, walked around the harbor and explored the city. The second day of our trip began bright and early, walking to the harbor and catching a ferry to Taronga Zoo. We got to see all the indigenous animals like koalas and kangaroos for the first time. After a full day of walking and fun we went for a shopping expedition at Pitt St Mall. After a history tour and souvenir shopping, on the third day, we returned home to Brisbane and back to school the following day.
Sydney was frankly an amazing city and experiencing it with an extraordinary group of girls was a true privilege. It was a unique experience that we were all extremely lucky to have shared.
Cami (South Africa): The Sydney trip was definitely one of the highlights of my exchange. We were exposed to so many amazing aspects of Australia through the Opera House tour and the walking history tour, this really gave me deep understanding of the history of Australia which I found very interesting. Going into the opera house was so beautiful and I had to make a promise to myself that I would come back and watch a performance there. Something as small as going across the harbor in a ferry meant a lot to me and I spent the whole ferry ride just admiring the beauty of the city, bridge and Opera House. The zoo was also incredible as I was able to see not only Australian animals but animals from all over the world which I have never seen before. I'm so lucky I was able to get this experience and hope that I’ll be able to come back one day.
Rania (Canada): The Sydney trip is an experience that I will never forget. From the beautiful sights to the connections that I made, all of it is unforgettable. I loved visiting the city by walking. Even though we walked twenty thousand steps a day it was worth it because it was the best way to see the city. The opera house was super impressive as well as Taronga Zoo. Over there I learned a lot about Sydney’s history thanks to the walking history tour of the rocks. Besides the beautiful city, I also made amazing friends. We bonded over our love for Yo-chi and even though we live on different continents I will never forget them. Overall, the Sydney trip was more than just some tourism, it was a unique experience full of laughter and joy, and I will forever cherish these memories.
Josie (South Africa): This week the exchange girls from St Margaret's went to Sydney for two nights, and what a time we had! In just two short days we managed to go to Bondi Beach, the Opera House, Taronga Zoo, Pitt Street shopping, China Town and a walking history tour at The Rocks.
My favourite part of the trip was the beautiful harbor. Being able to experience such a beautiful city is such a privilege. I am so grateful for this opportunity provided by St Margaret's, and I will never forget the memories I have made. Being in Australia at St Margaret's is developing my character immensely and I am beginning to see personal growth every day, step by step becoming a better version of myself.
Emma (South Africa): The Sydney trip was such an amazing experience as I got to see all of the ways that Sydney is different and similar to South Africa. It was such a great experience as we got to learn about Sydney and Australia's rich history and see how the people go about their daily lives. We got the opportunity to see the incredible buildings as well as the Sydney Opera House, which was unbelievable. Going to Taronga Zoo was definitely a highlight of the trip. I had so much fun seeing and learning about the unique Australian animals. I am so grateful to have experienced this with my friends, not only from my home country, but from other parts of the world, and it is something that I will cherish forever.
Minny (South Africa): Sydney was amazing!! The moment we got there I felt the atmosphere of the city. It was busy but beautiful. We walked to all the sites, moments of mystic and calm. Everyone had their own places to be, rushing to get there.
It all hit when we arrived at the beach though – at Bondi beach. The view was breathtaking. The sea was clear and teal blue. The sand was soft and clean. Which was unusual for me because the beach sand in South Africa is grainier and shellier. The best part though, we got to take a photo with the Bondi Lifeguards like the ones from the show!
My favourite part was the Sydney Opera House. It was gorgeous. From afar it was smaller than I expected but once we got there... It. Was. Huge. The structure of it was sophisticated and shiny. The tiles radiating underneath the sun. Though the main hall took it all away. The two different woods blending to carry the sound and the hints of purple with the stage lights. It felt regal-like.
All in all, Sydney was lots of fun, and I had an awesome time there.
Ruth (South Africa): I absolutely loved the Sydney tour. It was an amazing experience for me as I have never been there before. It was a great time to just relax and take my mind off the busy rush of everyday life. My favorite part of the trip was Bondi beach and meeting the lifeguards. I would have loved to spend a bit more time there as it was so beautiful.
I also loved the zoo and seeing all the different animals that we don't usually see in South Africa. The boat ride there was amazing. Looking back at the Opera House, the bridge, the Harbour and the city was truly spectacular.
I loved the time with my friends and meeting the girls from other countries.
It was so amazing and beautiful to see.
Gabrielle (Canada): The trip to Sydney was really unforgettable. We learned about the history of the Opera House and The Rocks. It was really interesting to be able to make links with what we already knew but also learn new information and stories that the guides told us about. Seeing animals that I'd never seen before was so impressive. Coming from Canada, tigers, giraffes and rhinos aren't the most common animals to see so it was nice to learn a bit about them and see them for the first time.
The trip also brought me many new friendships. I got a lot closer to the girls from Vancouver who I had already talked to but hadn't built a friendship with them yet. Seeing each other outside of school and really being able to talk and learn about each other really brought us closer. We were also able to learn about the South African girls who just arrived. Sharing our different lifestyles and learning about each others culture was so interesting and made us become friends. In the end, everyone was so lovely and it was so nice to be a big group sharing this experience together.
Sarah (South Africa): I had the best time in Sydney, this week all of the St Margaret's exchange girls went on a trip to Sydney. As soon as we arrived we got on a bus and went to Bondi Beach, it was such an amazing experience and we even met the lifeguards and got a photo! I loved going to the Opera House and seeing the beautiful main hall, that was truly a once in a lifetime experience!!
Taronga Zoo was definitely a highlight. It was so cool to see the koala, kangaroo and all of the other animals that I had never seen before. The Italian restaurant we went to that night had the best pizza I have ever tasted!! The Sydney trip was truly a magical experience and it helped me make so many memories that I will treasure forever!
Sienna (South Africa): The Sydney trip was one of the greatest experiences of my life and will definitely remain a memory that will stick with me forever. I had so much fun and really enjoyed all the activities such as going to Bondi Beach, Taronga Zoo, and my personal favorite, seeing the Opera House. It was so stunning that it felt unreal; the architecture was insane, so unique and definitely something you would not get to see anywhere else, making it a truly special experience.
I was very excited when I saw a koala for the first time at the Taranga Zoo, It was one of the cutest animals I have ever seen. The food in Sydney was also absolutely delicious! Overall, it was unforgettable. I am so grateful I was able to go.
Clara (Canada): The Sydney trip was truly an unforgettable experience. From touring the Opera House and relaxing at Bondi Beach to seeing Australian wildlife up close at the zoo, and so much more, there was always something to look forward to. These adventures have definitely become core memories for me.
I met so many friends on this trip from different countries, and I can’t wait to stay in touch with them over the years. Sydney is a beautiful city, and we had the opportunity to experience the culture and learn about the city’s history during our walking tour of The Rocks. The food was incredible, and our teachers were so welcoming and kind throughout the trip. I’m so grateful that I had the chance to go on this trip. It is certainly an experience I will never forget.
Nicole Devlin