Karren McNee has put together a small brief on her experiences in the past as a host parent to our international students. We thank Karren for being such strong supporters on the international programme over the years and helping us to enrich the lives of our students through cultural exchange. We also offer our gratitude to Shelly McNee and Matt Cant who also hosted Amelie.

In 1997, Miyumi from Japan, came to stay with us for a year and attended Westland High School to improve her English. Our first student ever. After Miyumi, came many more students from all around the world over the past 23 years. They were all very different in character and experiences.

An extended time overseas away from your family seems a very long time but the year flies by.

In that year the student integrates into your family, school life, community and becomes a “local”.

International exchange students absolutely LOVE everything here in Hokitika. We locals can tend to take our natural environment for granted.

Fresh air, mountains, Mt Cook, beaches, big surf, lakes, bush, rivers, copious amounts of rain, night sky, the coastline, stunningly sunny days, freedom, friendly helpful people. Hokitika is situated halfway to everywhere!

Amelie, our recent international student, saw and experienced Queenstown, Wanaka, Auckland, Christchurch, Sumner, Murchison, Lake Rotoiti, Waihopai Valley, Nelson, Blenheim, Picton, Marlborough Sounds by Bluebridge Ferry, Wellington, Takaka, Farewell Spit, Abel Tasman, Westport, Craigieburn Valley, Punakaiki, Lake Kaniere, Lake Mahinapua, Ross and the Hokitika Gorge 5 times.

This year Covid 19 locked five of us down at home. It wasn’t so bad as bikes and beach and dog walking kept life semi normal. Four laying hens also arrived to lay fresh eggs.

Amelie taught herself the piano, joined the hockey team, and organised a lovely leaving party. Trying to close her over packed suitcase when leaving was an interesting experience!

When learning to live with another family on the other side of the world it takes time to grasp the language, colloquialisms, culture and humorous lost- in-translation moments. Information overload in the beginning is exhausting!

All the while being a teenager and navigating that fraught world in a second language has challenges to overcome.

Our International Students gain in confidence and life experiences and blossom in our rainforest environment and that enriches all of our lives.