Sale Rotary Club Student Exchange Hanna

Rotary Club of Sale

STUDENT EXCHANGE

Hanna's Own Page
Hi, I am HANNA HOGLUND, from Mjolby in Sweden, currently Rotary Exchange Student at Sale, Victoria, Australia.	Australia & Sale

I arrived in Sale on July 8th 1998, and will be here about a year and am staying with my first host family, Rotarian Tony Morgan and his wife, Josie.
Tony is a member of the Sale Central Rotary Club. During my stay in Sale, I will share my new Australian lifestyle with three or four host families, and I look forward to learning lots about this great country .

As it is Winter here in Australia, and it was Summer back home, I am suprised how cold it is here in Sale, however I am told that things warm up a bit around Christmas time. Sale is smaller than my home town in Sweden, with a population of only 14,000 people. The people here are friendly, and keen to welcome me in to their homes and lives.

I have met some great friends at my new school, Macalister Secondary College, who have already arranged for me to go along to their "Debutante Ball" and forthcoming "Fashion Parade". I am going to be their "International model" for that function!!.

I have been to a couple of parties already, and things have been going well, so far.

Sale College has about 700 students at the senior campus, and about 400 at the junior campus. The school was formed two years ago, following the amalgamation of the two secondary schools in Sale at the time.

I am soon to go to Melbourne with my host family, maybe to the "Footy" or to see a show. I am looking forward to the shopping and visiting Victoria's Capital City.

Update - September 1st.
My 17th birthday was celebrated on August 21st in style, when my friends gave me a terrific suprise party.
At Rotary, I was embarrassed when 40 Rotarians sang "Happy Birthday" !!
I went to Melbourne with my host family on a shopping trip, where I was able to spend up in the big Melbourne department stores. I have also recently been introduced to Australian Rules Football, and have attended matches supporting the Sale Football Club. Even though the rules seem a bit confusing, it is entertaining to see the blokes (Australian slang for males) dressed in dustcoats and white hats wave little white flags frantically, every time a team scores!

I also attended the Sale College Debutante Ball, where students from my year level made their debuts, This is a quaint British custom to celebrate the coming of age and is a big event for the local girls.

Update 22nd October.
Well, I have been here already for over 5 months and have now moved house to be with my new host family, Gary,Cindy,Katrina and Matthew Doake.
Recently, I went to the Healesville Sanctuary near Melbourne, where I saw an abundance of Australian Native animals, including Koalas, Kangaroos, Emu's and Echidna. The highlight of the sanctuary was the birds of prey where a display of Wedge Tailed Eagles and other raptors.
My social life has been hectic, with many birthday parties and other events, and I have been introduced to an Australian icon, the BarBQ. This is a method of cooking where meat is cooked on an open grille with lots of smoke. I am told that this is a common way of eating in Summer.
Speaking of Summer, it is now only two months away here. It will be different for me to experience Christmas without snow, my host family tells me that normally on Christmas day it is hot, sometimes up to 35 degrees.
I am doing well at my school, year 11 at Sale College, my favorite subject is legal studies.

Update 31st October.
Today I went to the Sale Agricultural Show. Its a country fair, with amusement rides and displays of agricultural activity, like cows, horses and sheep.

Here I am with an Alpaca, which are grown for their wool.

At the amusement area of the Sale Show.

With my new host family,
Gary, Cindy, Katrina and Matthew Doake

Update 16th December, 1998. Well, school is now finished and it is summer holiday time in Australia. It will be really different for me this year having a Christmas without snow. It has been hot here, temperatures up to 41 degrees and I have been swimming lots.

I will be spending Christmas day with my host family the Doakes in Sale, then I will be going camping at Seaspray, a seaside holiday village about 20 kilometres from Sale.
In early January 1999 I will be travelling to South Australia with my host family to visit their relatives in Adelaide. It is a long trip, about 2000 kilometres return.
Recently I have been to a Rotary camp at Wilsons Promontory National Park with other Rotary Exchange Students and this years outgoing students. We had a wonderful time and all enjoyed ourselves.
I have also recently attended a Swedish Bazaar in Melbourne, where together with about 1000 other Swedish and Danish people we ate Swedish food and were entertained just like at home.

UPDATE: 23rd March 1999

After a hot Christmas that I wasnt really used to, I went on holiday with my host family to South Australia. My host mother's sister has a farm at Port Broughton, about 250 kilometres from Adelaide.

When we got back, I went to the Rotary camp at Lake Tyers, with all the exchange students from District 9820. We had a great time there, sharing our experiences as exchange students.

After the holidays, I have returned to Sale College and am in year 12.

Recently, my parents Ejvor and Ake visited Australia. Even though they were only here for one week, it was great to see my parents again. I think my mother misses me, and eagerly awaits my homecoming.!

I have also been underwater scuba diving at Merimbula, and in April I am going on the Rotary Outback Tour, to Ayers Rock and Alice Springs.

When I get back from the trip, I will be moving to my 3rd host family the Rowarth's, prior to my return to Sweden.

With our Christmas Tree, decorated for the big day.!!

My parents Ejvor and Ake visited in March

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