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NORDIC COUNTRIES<br />

Sweden, Norway, F<strong>in</strong>land, Denmark<br />

FIRST<br />

COUNTRY<br />

CHOICE<br />

SWEDEN<br />

Sweden is an exotic country with mounta<strong>in</strong>s,<br />

forests, lakes and sandy beaches. High<br />

schools <strong>in</strong> Sweden offer a broadbased curriculum.<br />

The school year runs from mid August <strong>to</strong><br />

early June and the school day is 8 am <strong>to</strong> 4 pm,<br />

Monday <strong>to</strong> Friday. Many teen agers engage <strong>in</strong><br />

sports after school. On weekends most families<br />

organise get-<strong>to</strong>gethers with relatives and<br />

friends.<br />

NORWAY<br />

Norway is known for its deep blue fjords and<br />

high mounta<strong>in</strong>s. Norwegians are very proud<br />

of their country and are known <strong>to</strong> be friendly<br />

with a good sense of humour. High school <strong>in</strong><br />

Norway runs from mid August <strong>to</strong> June and the<br />

school day is 8 am <strong>to</strong> 4 pm, Monday <strong>to</strong> Friday.<br />

Students have a number of compulsory subjects,<br />

but they can also choose among a range<br />

of other subjects depend<strong>in</strong>g on their <strong>in</strong>terests.<br />

Most teenagers jo<strong>in</strong> youth clubs <strong>in</strong> Norway.<br />

FINLAND<br />

Famous for its 50,000 lakes, F<strong>in</strong>land offers a<br />

variety of outdoor activities throughout the<br />

year. F<strong>in</strong>nish high schools offer a wide variety<br />

of vocational and academic courses. As an exchange<br />

student you can choose your subjects.<br />

The school day usually starts between 8 am<br />

and 10 am and ends between 2 pm and 4 pm.<br />

Most families live <strong>in</strong> their own houses <strong>in</strong> the<br />

country side or <strong>in</strong> spacious apartments <strong>in</strong> the<br />

cities. Families usually spend their even<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>to</strong>gether<br />

at home.<br />

DENMARK<br />

Denmark is widely known as ”The Fairy Tale<br />

Country” home of Hans Christian Andersen<br />

and it is also the oldest monarchy <strong>in</strong> the world.<br />

Castles and charm<strong>in</strong>g old build<strong>in</strong>gs are found<br />

all over the country, but Denmark is also a<br />

very modern society. The Danish high school<br />

year beg<strong>in</strong>s <strong>in</strong> mid-August and ends <strong>in</strong> June.<br />

Choose one of the most exotic<br />

dest<strong>in</strong>ations for a New Zealand<br />

high school student & discover<br />

the legendary hospitality of the<br />

Northern European people!<br />

”Go<strong>in</strong>g on exchange is an experience like no other could<br />

possibly be. In one year I have lived <strong>in</strong> two <strong>to</strong>wns, with<br />

two groups of truly special friends. I now have two<br />

Swedish families <strong>to</strong> return <strong>to</strong> and a life time full of<br />

memories. I have grown so much as a person, I would<br />

not give up the exchange experience for anyth<strong>in</strong>g. I<br />

broke my shell, and now I am better off for it!”<br />

Tara, Hokitika<br />

FIRST<br />

COUNTRY<br />

CHOICE<br />

Ch<strong>in</strong>a<br />

Learn Mandar<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> mysterious Ch<strong>in</strong>a<br />

Visit one of the greatest<br />

wonders of the world while on<br />

exchange <strong>in</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>a, The Great<br />

Wall of Ch<strong>in</strong>a.<br />

One of the world’s largest countries, with a<br />

his<strong>to</strong>ry that dates back many thousands of<br />

years and traditions that take a while <strong>to</strong> understand.<br />

Life is different <strong>in</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>a, but absolutely<br />

wonderful.<br />

The size of Ch<strong>in</strong>a is approximately the same<br />

as the US and <strong>in</strong> it reside a fifth of the world’s<br />

population. The official language of Ch<strong>in</strong>ese<br />

has various different dialects. Most Ch<strong>in</strong>ese<br />

people speak Mandar<strong>in</strong>, which you will also<br />

learn. In order <strong>to</strong> benefit from your time <strong>in</strong><br />

school and your time <strong>in</strong> the country, it is a good<br />

idea <strong>to</strong> read about Ch<strong>in</strong>a before you leave.<br />

School<br />

Schools <strong>in</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>a are usually big and the education<br />

is of a high standard. You need <strong>to</strong> be<br />

”I absolutely loved the six months I spent <strong>in</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>a. What<br />

I experienced there was truly amaz<strong>in</strong>g and before I knew it<br />

my time was over. Every moment dur<strong>in</strong>g my time <strong>in</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>a<br />

was filled with great joy because I had made some friends<br />

for life, I am glad I went and choose <strong>STS</strong> for my student exchange.<br />

The culture was unbelievable, Ch<strong>in</strong>a has so many<br />

his<strong>to</strong>rical places found nowhere else <strong>in</strong> the world.”<br />

Vivien, Auckland<br />

highly motivated <strong>to</strong> learn. The school year lasts<br />

from September <strong>to</strong> July. You attend school<br />

from Monday <strong>to</strong> Friday, spend<strong>in</strong>g the morn<strong>in</strong>gs<br />

with Ch<strong>in</strong>ese students and spend<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

afternoons learn<strong>in</strong>g the Ch<strong>in</strong>ese language and<br />

the Ch<strong>in</strong>ese culture. English and mathematics<br />

are compulsory subjects. Examples of other<br />

subjects are his<strong>to</strong>ry, geography, chemistry, biology,<br />

IT and physics. Previous knowledge of<br />

Ch<strong>in</strong>ese is not necessary. For those students<br />

depart<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> August, you will beg<strong>in</strong> your exchange<br />

with a three week language course.<br />

<strong>STS</strong> will organise two round trips <strong>in</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>a, one<br />

<strong>to</strong> Beij<strong>in</strong>g and the other <strong>to</strong> Shanghai.<br />

Family life<br />

Most Ch<strong>in</strong>ese people only have one child and<br />

there is therefore a big <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> receiv<strong>in</strong>g an<br />

exchange student. A lot of host families live <strong>in</strong><br />

the major city regions and speak good English.<br />

You will get <strong>to</strong> know and experience Ch<strong>in</strong>a <strong>in</strong><br />

a way <strong>to</strong>urists rarely do. After a while, you will<br />

be eat<strong>in</strong>g real Ch<strong>in</strong>ese food with chopsticks, as<br />

if you had never known any different, and celebrat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the Ch<strong>in</strong>ese New year with your host<br />

family as if it were the most natural th<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><br />

the world.<br />

www.sts-education.co.NZ 13

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