The Wonders of Australia

A group of Ateneo de Manila Grade School students went to Australia from 15-20 June 2024 for the Australia Cultural Immersion Program (ACIP), the school’s first post-pandemic cultural immersion tour. The boys were accompanied by teachers, administrators, and some parents.

What follows is the fourth and last student-authored article about the enriching trip. It is by recent graduate Gelo Serrano (6-Claver in School Year 2023-2024).

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I consider myself most fortunate to be among the students who got to participate in the Australian Cultural Immersion Program. To experience exploring lands outside the Philippines at a very young age is such a rare opportunity. Honestly, I was a bit scared to leave at first because this was the first time that I would be apart from my family for five days. There were so many kisses, hugs and goodbyes before I left, and some tears, too! Though I was gonna miss them for sure, my heart was also filled with deep excitement and anticipation. So off I went to the land of the koalas!

Upon setting foot for the first time in a different land, I instantly felt a feeling of awe. It was so cold but I liked the chilling breeze, which was far from the warm weather of our tropical country. We visited so many different tourist spots in Australia, including famous landmarks like the Sydney Opera House, St. Mary’s Cathedral, and the Blue Mountain. The appearance of these scenic spots is very far from what I saw on TV or in books. They are all amazingly beautiful!  I got to see a koala and took a picture with it, which was so cool! They’re actually bigger than I thought.

I also realized that Australia is a place rich in culture and tradition. Cultural diversity thrives in this country. I learned that people of different cultures, races, backgrounds and even personal beliefs can co-exist and make a good team if they just respect and understand each other.  

The highlight of the program was our visit to Aloysius' College. Just like Ateneo, it is a Jesuit school which shares the same doctrine. We shared insights and experiences with some of their students and were able to learn lots of new things about them. We got to play their favorite games – cricket and rugby- and we had so much fun! Our interaction with their students proved that there is unity in diversity. 

Going to Canberra was also unforgettable. We visited the Parliament House and were toured around the House of Representatives and the Senate. It’s amazing that the House of Representatives and the Senate share the same roof and we learned that their set-up works efficiently. We also visited the Australian War Memorial and saw the stories of the soldiers who bravely faced death on the battlefield. I wished we had more time to explore the War Memorial and the Parliament House, but I was glad that I learned a bit about Australia’s culture and its heroes.  

One of the best things that this program taught me is to be responsible and confidently independent. Back home, my mom constantly reminded me that I will be on my own during the tour so I had to look after myself, my things and everything else. I never realized the value of my Mom’s advice until the tour. Yes, I am proud to say that I am more responsible and independent now. Also, I will never forget the memories I shared with the participants, especially my groupmates and roommates. The experience will always be cherished. Thank you, all, for making the tour unforgettable.

The whole experience was both fun-filled and eye-opening for me. I had mixed emotions going back home… I was sad that the tour had come to an end, but excited to see my family again. However, I do consider myself a richer person because of the experience and learnings I gained during the program. It was all worth it! This early, I am already looking forward to the next destination. Meanwhile, I’m going to enjoy the food my daddy cooked for me as a welcome home dinner. I missed the rice and adobo so much!

Until next time.