On the 6th of December boys at OBHS will be celebrating the end of term and the start of the summer holidays. For Aramis Fitzgerald, a Year 12 student this day will be even more momentous as it is the day that he will fulfil a long-held dream.

Aramis is setting off to the Lycée Intérnational de Valbonne in the South of France to spend two months soaking up French culture and language. He will have the opportunity to visit Nice and other well-known places on the Côte d’Azur and it is likely that his exchange family will take him to Paris too.

In July of this year, Aramis’ exchange partner Leon visited Dunedin and stayed with him. Leon got a taste of the New Zealand school system by attending classes, just as Aramis will when he gets to France because, of course, apart from a couple of weeks over the festive season, schools in the northern hemisphere are not on holiday as we are!

Aramis doesn’t mind giving up his kiwi summer for a minute. He says “I have always wanted to get out of this small part of the world that I have lived in for all my life. I have extended family in many parts of the world and I can now meet family members in France that I have never met before, as well as making new friends. I am looking forward to a white Christmas in the 2 months of my stay in France. I hope to learn more of the language and see some of the world that is so often mentioned by society.”

There is no doubt that this trip will be a real eye opener and truly enriching. With such a positive attitude, Aramis is sure to get the very best from the experience.

If you are interested in learning more about the exchanges that are available to your son who is studying senior French or German, please contact elaine.kelly@obhs.school.nz