The Voice – brought to you by The Page & Epistle

By Macey Boyce ’28

Over our most recent Spring Break, St Paul’s students were given the opportunity to go to Perth, Australia for 2 weeks and explore the different culture, people, activities, and more. I was one of the 14 students who was able to go to Australia and experience the life down under. Even though many of us went to Australia together, each of our experiences were entirely different and I’d love to tell you a little bit about mine. 

I landed in Perth on Monday, March 16th and was greeted by the most welcoming, loving host family. We landed quite late that night, so we quickly got our luggage and left the airport. My host family, the Linton’s lived in what Australian’s call, The Bush. We drove back to their house and almost immediately I went to bed. The exchange program gave me the ability to shadow my host sister, Alanna throughout her school day go wherever she went outside of school as well. So, the next morning, we woke up and went to school. (All the American students attended the week at Guilford Grammar School with their hosts) Arriving at Guilford, I was immediately bombarded with Australian accents and new faces. In all the classes I went to students would ask me all kinds of questions, ask me to do an Australian accent, wonder what “American” life was like. Almost everyone’s schedule consisted of Math, English, Hass (History), and Science in which students were learning biology. Their school was vastly different from ours, the walks to almost every class were outside with the vibrant sun beaming down on us throughout the day.  

After the school day ended, Alanna and her family would take me to places around Perth, where I could explore the sights of Australia. The first day, we went to the most stunning beach, Cottoslo. We went in the water, laid out by the beach, got dinner, the most perfect beach afternoon. I got to see the stunning city of Perth, which was incredibly clean and beautiful. The nature in Australia is mesmerizing and the best part about it is how protected it is. Within the bustling city of Perth, green was a prominent color I saw, whether it was in the multiple parks, trees and flowers, or even the green grass. Throughout the next few days, we would continue to go to school and then do the most fun things in the afternoon. Alanna took me to the mall, to watch the Australian Women’s National Soccer Team in Optus Stadium, and to even more beaches. I grew incredibly close with myfamily, we would go out to dinners together, they let me try so many different Australian snacks, my favorite being Tim Tams. That weekend, Alanna and I, along with a few other American students and their hosts, went to the most stunning place called Rottnest Island. To get there, we had to take an about a 30-minute-long ferry. We spent the entire day there from 8 am – 6pm. Rotto, as the Australians called it, was like its own little town. It had over 10 beaches and more shops than I could count. All the Australians and their hosts who went spent the entire day together, swimming, tanning, shopping, riding bikes, taking Quokka selfies, and more. I’d have to say if I was asked about a favorite part of my trip, it might be the time we spent at Rottnest Island. My host family gave me endless opportunities in Australia and fully involved me in their lives; I was able to see so much of Australian life because of them. I loved every single second I spent during my exchange and wouldn’t have changed a thing. However, our time with our families eventually had to come to an end, that next Monday we spent a few hours at Guilford until we had to say a teary goodbye and head to Margaret River, our next adventure in Australia.