EXCHANGE DIARIES

Exchange Diaries: Charlie Will in Germany

During my time so far at Salem, I’ve noticed just how different school life is here compared to Scotch Oakburn. Every morning you wake up at 6:40 am for a quick run, then attend compulsory breakfast, which is a great way to get to know your fellow students. Classes begin at 8:00 am and end at 4:00 pm, with four classes a day rather than our three doubles, split by 30-minute breaks and a 40-minute lunch in the dining hall. One big difference: when a teacher is away, there’s no substitute — instead, you spend 90 minutes in study hall, working in complete silence.

Outside class, Salem offers plenty to get involved in: services (I’m part of the Round Square fundraiser group), sports (school swimming for me), and clubs, which I’m working my way through to try each one. In free time, I often walk with friends to the small towns nearby for grocery shopping or just to explore.

A recent highlight was travelling to the Lake Constance district with Ms Peters and the other exchange students, who I’ve grown close to. The city of Constance blended ancient infrastructure with modern architecture for an almost unreal feeling — we climbed the main cathedral for incredible views of Germany, Switzerland and Austria all at once, then walked over the border into Switzerland to see just how close the countries really are.

The food here is very different to Australia, with cultural dishes like meatballs and traditional pastas, and the nature is surreal — I’m hoping to climb some of the Alps and do day walks with friends before I leave. I’m really enjoying my time in Salem and dreading the day I have to go.

There’s still so much more to discover, and I’m making the most of this once-in-a-lifetime adventure!

Charlie Will
Year 10 Student