Test 2. Make up your mind

Read the text and choose the right variant.

Growing up in suburbia U.S.A., I always wanted to experience another culture. The opportunity came when I was 15. After a few months of planning and preparing, I was ready to spend the second semester of my first year of high school as an exchange student in Australia.

I knew it would be a challenge to convince my parents that it was a good idea to send their 15-year-old daughter across the world, so I figured the best thing to do would be to plan out piece by piece every element that would go into this experience. How much would it cost? How long would I be abroad? When would I go? I took all the facts to my parents and told them, "I won't take no for an answer." And they did not say no.

As a team, my parents and I then went to my school's counsellor to seek help on which organization might be best suited for me. It boiled down to Youth For Understanding, which offered a wonderful scholarship that paid for half of my program.

Landing in Perth was one of the most exciting moments of my life. I realized then that there was no turning back. The family I would live with was waiting for me, and the new school year would start in only five days. The Catholic school I attended was also very different from my public school back in the States. The uniforms code was very strict. We were only allowed to wear one bracelet, which had to be a watch, and one necklace, which had to have a Holy Cross. I was quite intimidated at first, especially never having been to a new school—even in the U.S. Everything went smoothly, though. The teachers were welcoming and the students were friendly.

The most memorable time of my semester abroad was with 41 other international exchange students travelling around Australia during our semester break. The few weeks we spent together were jam-packed with amazing activities.

At the end of our stay in Australia, we had three weeks of travelling time to share our stories and help each other cope with leaving. It was only natural that our last day together was filled with tears. We packed our camp, exchanged e-mail addresses, and gathered together for a final good-bye.

Upon coming home, an open mind and flexibility were again important. The transition was at times trying, since it was difficult to convey the magnitude of my experience and for others to understand it. Resettling home took time and effort, but eventually I made the adjustment. All the while, I was attentive to letting my family and friends know how happy I was to be home and how much I had missed them—though the experience is still vividly with me. So, if you have the opportunity to study abroad you most certainly should.

by Chelsea Fosse

Where did the author go for her exchange program?

Read the text and choose the right variant.

Growing up in suburbia U.S.A., I always wanted to experience another culture. The opportunity came when I was 15. After a few months of planning and preparing, I was ready to spend the second semester of my first year of high school as an exchange student in Australia.

I knew it would be a challenge to convince my parents that it was a good idea to send their 15-year-old daughter across the world, so I figured the best thing to do would be to plan out piece by piece every element that would go into this experience. How much would it cost? How long would I be abroad? When would I go? I took all the facts to my parents and told them, "I won't take no for an answer." And they did not say no.

As a team, my parents and I then went to my school's counsellor to seek help on which organization might be best suited for me. It boiled down to Youth For Understanding, which offered a wonderful scholarship that paid for half of my program.

Landing in Perth was one of the most exciting moments of my life. I realized then that there was no turning back. The family I would live with was waiting for me, and the new school year would start in only five days. The Catholic school I attended was also very different from my public school back in the States. The uniforms code was very strict. We were only allowed to wear one bracelet, which had to be a watch, and one necklace, which had to have a Holy Cross. I was quite intimidated at first, especially never having been to a new school—even in the U.S. Everything went smoothly, though. The teachers were welcoming and the students were friendly.

The most memorable time of my semester abroad was with 41 other international exchange students travelling around Australia during our semester break. The few weeks we spent together were jam-packed with amazing activities.

At the end of our stay in Australia, we had three weeks of travelling time to share our stories and help each other cope with leaving. It was only natural that our last day together was filled with tears. We packed our camp, exchanged e-mail addresses, and gathered together for a final good-bye.

Upon coming home, an open mind and flexibility were again important. The transition was at times trying, since it was difficult to convey the magnitude of my experience and for others to understand it. Resettling home took time and effort, but eventually I made the adjustment. All the while, I was attentive to letting my family and friends know how happy I was to be home and how much I had missed them—though the experience is still vividly with me. So, if you have the opportunity to study abroad you most certainly should.

by Chelsea Fosse

Chelsea’s parents had to support all the expenses of the exchange programme.

Read the text and choose the right variant.

Growing up in suburbia U.S.A., I always wanted to experience another culture. The opportunity came when I was 15. After a few months of planning and preparing, I was ready to spend the second semester of my first year of high school as an exchange student in Australia.

I knew it would be a challenge to convince my parents that it was a good idea to send their 15-year-old daughter across the world, so I figured the best thing to do would be to plan out piece by piece every element that would go into this experience. How much would it cost? How long would I be abroad? When would I go? I took all the facts to my parents and told them, "I won't take no for an answer." And they did not say no.

As a team, my parents and I then went to my school's counsellor to seek help on which organization might be best suited for me. It boiled down to Youth For Understanding, which offered a wonderful scholarship that paid for half of my program.

Landing in Perth was one of the most exciting moments of my life. I realized then that there was no turning back. The family I would live with was waiting for me, and the new school year would start in only five days. The Catholic school I attended was also very different from my public school back in the States. The uniforms code was very strict. We were only allowed to wear one bracelet, which had to be a watch, and one necklace, which had to have a Holy Cross. I was quite intimidated at first, especially never having been to a new school—even in the U.S. Everything went smoothly, though. The teachers were welcoming and the students were friendly.

The most memorable time of my semester abroad was with 41 other international exchange students travelling around Australia during our semester break. The few weeks we spent together were jam-packed with amazing activities.

At the end of our stay in Australia, we had three weeks of travelling time to share our stories and help each other cope with leaving. It was only natural that our last day together was filled with tears. We packed our camp, exchanged e-mail addresses, and gathered together for a final good-bye.

Upon coming home, an open mind and flexibility were again important. The transition was at times trying, since it was difficult to convey the magnitude of my experience and for others to understand it. Resettling home took time and effort, but eventually I made the adjustment. All the while, I was attentive to letting my family and friends know how happy I was to be home and how much I had missed them—though the experience is still vividly with me. So, if you have the opportunity to study abroad you most certainly should.

by Chelsea Fosse

Chelsea didn’t like her new school at all.