They love Cadbury chocolate, meat pies and ‘parmas’ … but aren’t so sure about Vegemite.
Seven year 11 and 12 American exchange students are experiencing Australian life, culture and cuisine for three weeks as part of a program between Hoppers Crossing Secondary College and Estancia High School in Costa Mesa, California.
McKenna Covey, Brandi White, Andy Palomo, Jonathan Andrade, Luke Hume, Tayler Douglass and Ana Navarro arrived in Australia on July 26.
They will visit a range of Victorian landmarks – including the 12 Apostles and Phillip Island – go to an AFL match, take part in a debutante ball and attend classes at the Hoppers Crossing college.
Each student will spend time with two different host families during their stay, which is part of an exchange program run between the two schools for the past nine years. McKenna said the cold Melbourne weather had posed a challenge, but the students were enjoying trying out typical Aussie tucker, even giving kangaroo meat a try.
As for Vegemite, which McKenna and Jonathan tried at a school assembly, the yeasty saltiness did not impress.
The students all agreed that the Australian practice of driving on the left-hand side of the road – and drivers sitting on the right-hand side of the car – was also hard to get used to.
At school, the differing hours were also remarked on.
“For us, the first period starts at 7.55am,” chaperone Taylor McClanahan said.
“If you’re an athlete, you get out at 1.35pm, and if you’re not, you finish at 3.05.
