My life-changing Australia study tour

The Ateneo de Manila Junior High School (AJHS) conducts annual Global Study Tours to provide its students the opportunity to travel abroad and broaden their knowledge of the global community.  

This year, two groups of student delegates from AJHS joined the 2024 Oceania tour, with one group visiting Australia from June 8-21, and another group visiting New Zealand from June 1-17. The Ateneans experienced the rich cultures of these two nations through immersive activities centered on academics, culture, environment, and leadership. They were accompanied by AJHS faculty chaperones who guided them throughout their journey, and cared for by foster families and “school buddies” who warmly accommodated them throughout their stay. 

What follows is the detailed account of the experience by recent AJHS completer Tim Cortes (10-Page in School Year 2023-2024) of his two-week study tour in Australia’s Burpengary State Secondary College.

Going to the Land Down Under with my batchmates and teachers for a cultural study tour has helped me see Australian culture in a very exciting way. We were able to explore scenic places, experience new things, and make lifelong friends along the way. It’s safe to say that this trip was worth it, and I hope to go on another one next school year.

However, I never really expected too much from it. A few years before the pandemic, my parents signed me up for a study tour in Japan. The premise was very similar: explore different landmarks, live with a foster family, and go to a Japanese school. I had such a blast back then, as it was the first time I traveled without my parents. Now, you may be wondering, why did I say that I didn’t expect much from this Australia tour if I enjoyed the Japan one so much? This is because the latter set the standard for me. I enjoyed the first one so much that I thought nothing would ever top it. But I was wrong.

When I first looked out of the airplane window around seven hours into the flight, I was amazed at how beautiful the state of Queensland really was. Seeing the beautiful waters surrounding the airport left me speechless and in awe. I already knew back then that the country was known for its natural landscapes, but seeing them for myself left me in a state of bliss. Throughout the whole trip, I really couldn’t help but pull my phone out and take pictures of what I saw. My phone is now filled with photos of places like Tallebudgera Beach in the Gold Coast with its white sand and big waves, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, exotic animals like koalas and kangaroos, Redcliffe’s iconic jetty, the Australian Catholic University’s beautiful campus, and many more. It felt like I was staring at a picture book everywhere I turned. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to see these locations, and I hope to have more opportunities to travel around Australia in the future.

However, what really made this trip so special for me were the people I was with. Aside from my friends from Ateneo, the Australians we met welcomed us with such loving hearts. My foster parents- who are already retired- made sure to treat us like we were their kids, even if our stay lasted for only two weeks. They prepared a nice room for us to sleep in, cooked delicious meals every single day, and shared stories until we were all tired and went to bed. They even made us try the unique Australian culture! One night, we had a BBQ party with their kids and their own families. We were able to try exotic meats like kangaroo, crocodile, and wild deer! It sure was an experience. Every day, I felt loved and cared for. I felt that they were really my parents back there. I felt loved in every conversation, meal, and ride going to and from our school, Caboolture State High School. Speaking of Caboolture High, the students there made our stay fun and memorable. Aside from accompanying us to their interesting classes, they made sure to entertain us by having conversations and bringing us to their volleyball matches every break time. School time there was never boring because the community made us feel welcomed. Our buddies made sure that we had fun all the time. 

I am very thankful that I was given the opportunity to go on this Australian study tour. On our last day, it was hard to say goodbye to the friends we made throughout the course of our two-week stay. Fourteen days with them wasn't enough. If I were given the chance to stay longer, I would have, but that's just the way life goes.

British author Helen Oyeyemi once said, “I’m never sad when a friend goes far away, because whichever city or country that friend goes to, they turn the place friendly. They turn a suspicious-looking name on the map into a place where a welcome can be found." I am grateful to my parents, the Ateneo, my teacher companions, my batchmates, and my Australian friends who made this study tour possible and very memorable. I've made so many memories that I will surely cherish forever. I hope that I will be given another opportunity like this in the future, and I pray that God will bless the people I mentioned with everything they deserve, because they have shown me through the two weeks we had in Australia that there are still good people in this world who are able to change it in their own special way.