Winter 11 Featuring: The Buckingham Palace Awards Ceremony ...

SSE UPDATE AND
THANKSGIVING DINNER
A Memphis welcome for Jessica Caie, UK SSE student
Finn, Emily, Ailie and Saul: 2012 SSE scholars
The Secondary School Exchange (SSE) is one of the
ESU’s oldest programmes and enables students to spend
a year or six months in the US during their gap year or, in
the case of US students, a year in the UK. The current
US scholars in the UK and three-term UK scholars in the
US all started in September and have been updating us
on their progress so far. While it has been a learning curve
for some students getting used to a new environment and
a new country, they have all been getting involved with
activities in their schools, whether that be sailing, drama,
music and sport. Below are a few reports from British
students in America on their experience so far:
“I never knew that there were so few hours in the day until I
came to this school and I love it. I am constantly busy doing
interesting classes, spending time with new friends and
practising sports. This is the best way to spend a day and I
get to do it every day. Every teacher here knows who I am
and cares about my welfare and progress at the school.
Upon arrival, I immediately asked about possibly joining
the football team and around four different teachers
approached me and greatly helped me out.”
“Everything is going great, I’m really enjoying myself and
have already made some very close friends. I’m rooming
with three other girls so there’s always something fun going
on in my room! I’ve been given some brilliant opportunities
to experience new things. I’m going canoeing for the first
time ever this weekend and can’t wait.”
“So far so good, really enjoying my classes. There’s a lot of
work but it’s manageable! I am actually surprised how
difficult it is though, not really too different from A level
standard here. I’m making lots of new friends as well, my
roommate is from New York and I think I’m going to stay
with his family in Manhattan during the upcoming parents’
weekend. The school is amazing as well, really beautiful
grounds. I’m also involved in the Young Democrats club
which is really interesting and also the future business
leaders club. I think I’m going to contribute to the school
newspaper as well.”
Meanwhile, back in the UK, in November, we held the
briefing day for the new two-term scholars who will be
leaving to go America in January. They met alumni and
ESU staff to talk through their forthcoming time in the US
and to ask any questions before they go. The 2011-12
two-term scholars are:
- Finn Houston from Dollar, Scotland going to Westminster
School, Connecticut
- Saul Shimmin from Bolton going to Woodberry Forest
School, Virginia
- Emily Swallow from East Yorkshire going to Ravenscroft
School, North Carolina
- Ailie Walker from Suffolk going to Kent School,
Connecticut
The same evening, the current US scholars, who are at UK
boarding schools, were joined by some of the two-term
scholars and recent alumni from the programme to
celebrate Thanksgiving with turkey and pumpkin pie at
ESU Dartmouth House. The US scholars are spread
throughout the UK so it was a nice chance to meet each
other, compare experiences and explore London for the
weekend.
DIALOGUE 11