In September 2024, 16 students and two teachers from Liceo Galileo Galilei in Siena, Italy, visited Melbourne, Australia. The students were hosted by 15 families from Penola Catholic College. This initiative presented a valuable opportunity for cultural exchange and language acquisition. The exchange program represents an important milestone in promoting international friendships and enhancing the educational experiences of our students.
"Penola catholic college students made us feel welcome the whole time and really gave us one of the best experiences of our life, we couldn’t be more thankful. We loved all the places we visited, and we hope we’ll have the chance to discover more in the future." -Maria Laura and Francesca
"It was a pleasure to be hosted by Penola Catholic College students. During these two weeks we had a lot of fun, as we had the chance to experience new adventures, to visit awesome places and to see our Australian friends again as well. We hope to be back together soon, we loved your beautiful city :)" -Agata and Emma
"We are so grateful to have lived this experience. Finding out about new cultures and ways of living is crucial for our personal growth; so, we will forever thank our professors and the Penola College for this opportunity. Hope to see you all again!" -Ash and Viola
"Being part of your school for the last week has been one of the most beautiful experiences of our lives. We enjoyed every single moment of it, from the excursions to the lessons we attended in school. This exchange is going to be part of our personal growth, and we’ll bring it with ourselves for the rest of our lives." -Francesco and Federigo
"We are grateful for the unbelievable opportunity that Penola Catholic College offered us, we truly appreciated every bit of this unforgettable trip, from the lovely host families that opened their homes to us and took us in, to the wonderful outings programmed by the school. It was an out of this world experience which has deeply shaped each and every one of us, making it possibility one of the best weeks of our lives." -Sebastiano
"It was an amazing experience being able to host one of the Italians we all had so much fun together! During the excursion to the MCG, we were amazed by the history and the iconic events that have taken place there, especially when we got to step onto the ground of the stadium. A standout moment for me was when we all gathered to take a group photo in front of the stadium; it felt special because it symbolized our shared experiences and the friendships we built with our Italian peers, making the program so memorable!" -Amelia
"The exchange program was one of the best experiences of my life! Making new friends, gaining knowledge about the different culture, it was such a privilege. The whole exchange experience has helped me forge new friendships with people in another country! It is so important to have these types of relationships, in my opinion. I will forever be grateful to have been a part of this!" Thank you!" -Isabelle