German exchange student’s unforgettable Australian journey in Seymour

By Faith Macale

May 10, 2024

Saying goodbye: German exchange student Miriam Schnabbel, who lived in Seymour for the past 10 months, will be going back to her home country in two weeks. Photo: Faith Macale Photo by Faith Macale

Miriam Schnabbel is a Year 12 student from Germany who came to Seymour in an exchange program 10 months ago.

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Miriam has learned the local way of life, and what it’s like to be an Australian high-school student.

The exchange program Miriam is part of allowed her to choose her host country and length of stay.

“I chose the option where I don’t know where I’m going to be in Australia,” she said.

“Host families in Australia, they get sent a few application forms from the students in the different country, and then they can choose which one (to host).”

Living with her were her host parents, Daniel and Fiona Sanders.

“They chose me,” Miriam said.

“They sent me an email, and I didn't expect it that early because the organisation told us it could be like three weeks before we leave that we know about a host family, but I got it months before.

“We had video calls and everything, so I knew about Seymour a bit.

“The former host student they had was from Germany as well, she was sometimes in the video calls as well, and then she told me a bit about like the school, so I had a bit of an idea.”

Miriam said when she arrived, she was shocked by the distances between towns and how high schools were set up.

“Every village here is so far away,” she said.

“For example, even just Kilmore East is like 30 minutes away, and in Germany, you would only have to drive like two minutes in the car to get to the next village.

“The school is different because here, you only have one high school, and in Germany, we have like three different levels after primary school.”

In Germany, high school continues to Year 13, which is the highest level.

Great memories: Miriam Schnabbel with her host dad, Pastor Daniel Sanders. Photo: Faith Macale Photo by Faith Macale

Miriam reminisced about the past 10 months and her travels around Australia with her host family.

“I only stayed in Seymour, but we did some really nice little holidays together,” she said.

“I’m really lucky.”

One of her favourite trips was to the Gold Coast.

“It was amazing,” she said.

“In Germany, there aren’t that powerful waves and everything, so that was pretty cool.

“The ocean is pretty warm, actually.”

Two weeks from now, Miriam will be on her flight back to her homeland, but before that, she’s enjoying the last days with her friends, host family and classmates in Seymour.

But Miriam is excited to reunite with friends, family and food when she gets home.

“I look forward to my school, and my family, my friends ... my activities I used to do in Germany,” Miriam said.

“I like to try good bread again!

“They (Australia) have a lot of white bread, but my host mum, she actually makes really good bread.”

Miriam said though she was excited to go back, she would miss living in Australia.

“When I go back, (I’ll miss) just how ‘unstressful’ the life is here because people don’t seem as rushed,” she said.

“Then the variety of food.

“Fiona and Daniel, I’ll miss them.”

When Miriam goes back to Germany, she’ll continue her Year 12 studies before completing Year 13.

“After high school, I would like to take a gap year,” she said.

“Travel and then probably go to uni.”

While Miriam has her eyes on a law degree, she’s not certain that is what she wants to pursue.