An Unforgettable Journey

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

What follows is the first of four student-authored reflections about the enriching, eye-opening trip.

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When we first landed in Australia, I already knew that an entirely new adventure was waiting for me and that there were memories to be made during those five days. I learned that Australia has various cultures which are very different from the cultures we practice back home, especially when it comes to food. As much as their fish and chips tasted good, I really missed having rice with my favorite ulam, Sinigang! The weather was also colder than I thought it would be even when the sun was high up in the sky. It was also not crowded whenever we went outside to visit notable destinations in the country, which helped me notice and appreciate more of how they take care of their environment.

However, out of all the places we visited during our stay, our trip to Sydney Zoo was my most memorable experience. I finally got to feed a kangaroo! I learned that female kangaroos are the ones that have pouches. I was also able to take a picture of a koala! These experiences were very memorable for me because I got to see some of Australia’s native animals face-to-face.

Aside from what I learned and experienced during our time in the zoo, we also visited a Jesuit school, Saint Aloysius' College. I learned that it has different ways of doing things considering that it focused more on the spiritual teachings of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga. Its students also practice two sports: cricket and rugby. Even though we seemed to not have properly followed the games’ rules, I really enjoyed playing with my fellow batchmates.

Looking back, I realized that I have become more independent and responsible as a person. I can now approach people and talk to them without feeling shy, unlike before. Because of that, I got to meet people whom I now call friends. All these became possible by God’s grace through the Australian Cultural Immersion Program, where I not only learned things about the country but also about how I can comfortably be myself.