Program offers a cultural exchange

Six Indonesian exchange students touched down in Australia last week and have since been studying at Bunbury Catholic College as part of the school’s most recent exchange program.

The visit follows on from the college’s visit last year to Kolese Santo Yusup Malang (St Joseph's College, Malang), the first Indonesian exchange experience the school had offered.

BCC Indonesian teacher Dai Tonai said the program was significant because it gave regional students the chance to interact with students from the culture they had been studying.

“I think we’re the only school locally that does an exchange with Indonesia,” he said.

“Building friendships is one the easiest ways to understand other languages and cultures.”

The six Indonesian students have been spread over both of the college’s campuses with four studying at the Marist Campus and the remaining two at the Mercy campus.

Marist-based students Eldin Hernowo and Vianda Londok said their time in Australia so far had been exciting with the highlight being when they spotted kangaroos in the wild.

“I wanted to see how they study here,” Vianda said.

“There are so many differences between study here and in Indonesia.”

Eldin cited his desire to learn English fluently as the reason for joining the program.

All of the exchange students are being hosted by families within the school community and will stay in Bunbury for another week.