Student Stories

Camila Cadaval from Brazil

My name is Camila Cadaval, I am from Brazil and I have studied at Cashmere High School this year. I will just talk about some feelings and what it was like to stay here in New Zealand for one year.

Well when I first arrived I was completely lost and could not speak good English. I met my host family where I had two brothers, one older sister and at the first half I had a German host sister and at the second an Italian one, which was really nice to have them like sisters because we could talk about the school and find out other things about  their counties.

The first days of school weren’t very enjoyable. I didn’t know anybody and I was really quiet during the classes. I was wearing the uniform which I wasn’t really used to and I couldn’t easily find my classrooms.

But then, after a few  weeks, or one month, everything was a lot more normal to me, I was starting to like going to school, I had a few friends,  and I was getting on well with my family.

And if you are an international student at Cashmere High School you will have really good support, they always help if you need anything. People are very nice here, but it is not easy to make friends, if you don’t try to talk with them first. And don’t be scared to talk with them, because when it happens the first time, after that you will start to know more kiwi mates.

My host family was just amazing, I was really lucky to stay with them. I got used to the house very quick and they helped me with problems as well. Having them like a family, made it hard to get homesick.

I had a really good time in New Zealand.  This country is wonderful and it is a nice place to live. There are a lot of facilities in Christchurch and I don’t have any regrets of choosing the city and the school.

To everybody that is starting your exchange program, don’t be afraid to stay here, things will get better soon and in the end you will never want to go back to your country again.

Harry Wu from China

Hi, my name is Harry.  I am from Southern China, this is my fifth year in New Zealand.  English is not my first language, and when I first came to Cashmere, I found it hard to make friends here.  But the teachers here were very friendly and helpful which made my English develop faster than what I expected.   I quickly made some fiends; they were very helpful with my study.  They invited me to their birthday party and we often hang-out together in front of the library.

One week of the year that I enjoy at Cashmere High School is International Week.  This year the Chinese students organized a ‘Lion Dance’ around the school at interval.  We also got together and sold food at the Food Festival, we sold Chinese Pork Buns and Chinese Fried Noodles.  Actually, I never want to eat another pork bun – it reminds me of the really bad experience of eating all the leftover buns after the food festival.