The exchange of a lifetime came to an end for Alex Gilbert, who has returned to Griffith East Public School from the United States after a year-long journey.
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Miss Gilbert swapped lives and careers with a American teacher Colby Knifong, moving to Enterprise, Oregon, USA for one year.
She shares what she took away from the experience and how it changed her outlook on life and teaching.
“I think that was one of the things I got the most out of from the exchange was the friends that I made,” Miss Gilbert said.
“I really had no expectations of what to expect when I left Australia about how my year would pan out, but I never thought that I would find family on the other side of the world.”
Teaching experiences
Not only the traveling and sightseeing, but most importantly is was the teaching experience which broadened her horizons, giving her the chance to immerse herself in the curriculum and teach older students then she was in Griffith.
“The teaching was a great experience. It was nice to be somewhere where kids have had a different childhood and a different upbringing, and it made me more aware as an educator that everyone goes through different things and have different battles. If you can create a classroom environment where kids feel included and happy and safe and valued, you are halfway there.”
One of her favorite events was the Science Week activities, where she and the students worked outside for outdoor education week. Two thirds of the day was spent outside in the environment with local scientists, and then they conducted different experiments, studying microorganisms from local areas looking at bugs, collecting data and presenting it back.
“The exchange really opened my eyes to the fact these young adults have opinions and views of the world and it’s awesome to have conversations with them where their opinions count, it’s so much more interactive. They are listening and reading the news and forming opinions, starting to assert themselves in society.”
Travel and sightseeing
Miss Gilbert traveled to Utah, Nevada, Washington state, DC, Florida, Chicago, New Orleans and even Cuba, visited national parks and visited Native American war monuments, immersing herself in the culture as much as she could.
She hiked 48kms in 48 hours, and spent two nights out in the mountains.
“I climbed a mountain which was something I never thought I'd do in my entire life, and walked across snowy banks, forded a river which was freezing cold snow run off,” Miss Gilbert said.
“I’d never had to carry a backpack around with sleeping gear and other stuff, which is slightly different from backpacking around Europe!”
And another on her highlights reel, she had family come over to celebrate a special white Christmas together.
”My family came over and we had a white Christmas and I bought them all ugly Christmas jumpers! We had more family from Yenda come and we went skiing in Lake Tahoe.”
Miss Gilbert highly recommends an exchange to professionals or any young adults if they get the opportunity.
“To live overseas and immerse themselves in the values and culture of another country and get out of their comfort zone to go for it, embrace the challenge. Home will always be home.”