Ashtyn and Jemima reflect on their amazing Hockey Exchanges

November 8th 2024

Ashtyn and Jemima reflect on their amazing Hockey Exchanges...

From King's Bruton to South Africa

In April last year, I got the announcement that I might have the opportunity to go to South Africa and join St Cyprian's Girls School during the summer holidays. As someone who is so passionate about hockey and culture, this wasn’t an opportunity, I was willing to waste. This experience could not have been possible without the work of Mr Eriksson (Director of Sport), Mrs Bunday (Admissions Registrar), Mr Wilmshurst (Headmaster) and most importantly the dedication of my host mother (Paula) to give Jemima and I a chance to face an unfamiliar way of life.

Upon returning from the Malaysia and Singapore Hockey Tour, I had a one day ‘layover’ at home before I embarked on the trip of a lifetime to Cape Town. Flying alone for the 11-hour flight, I arrived at my home with the Kennedy - Smiths for the next 6 weeks. It soon became evident I was going to have an amazing time and become fully immersed in all the beautiful city has to offer.

I attended St Cyprian's Girls School, situated under the shadow of Table Mountain, predominately a day school with a shorter day and different timetable to King’s. I dived straight in the deep end and got involved in all St Cyprian's had to offer. For example, I played hockey in the ‘Blues Bash’ a charity event to raise money for period poverty, and a joint venture with the brother school Bishops Diocesan College.

Additionally, with Jemima’s hockey team, I travelled to Makhanda, for their 3-day hockey tournament. Despite being unable to play in the tournament I was taken in by the team and found myself making friends and memories to last forever. I also played and trained with the Western Province Cricket Club Ladies 4’s and enjoyed playing in several of their matches.

A huge difference I found between both schools was St Cyprians had a wide range of other exchange programmes, meaning I attended school with international students from India, America, and Germany. We also joined forces with the exchanges from Bishops where we went on day trips to experience all that Cape Town has to offer, such as surfing, and obviously hiking up Table Mountain.

Aside from the schooling, my most treasured memories were created with my host family, especially when we went to the Thorny Bush, just outside the Kruger in Johannesburg. Ross, Paula, and Jemima provided me with the most incredible 5-day safari experience where I came face to face with the big 5 of Africa - Buffalo, Rhino, Elephant, Lion & Leopard! In addition, every weekend I was introduced to new things and parts of Cape Town from playing paddle to visiting Boulders Bay to see the penguins and the spectacular scenery of Chapmans Peak.

I will forever be indebted to the Kennedy-Smiths for their hospitality and the ability they had to include me and keep me uplifted. Without a doubt they have become my 2^nd family for life.

I am beyond grateful for the exchange experience that I was lucky enough to be a part of, and I hope for the future that a girl’s exchange takes place as the memories and experience I gained from such a short space of time in South Africa will remain with me forever.

Ashtyn - L6^th Form, Arion House

From St Cyprian's to Bruton

I was lucky enough to be chosen by my school, St Cyprian’s, which is in Cape Town, South Africa for a school exchange to the UK. St Cyps is an Anglican school that is part of the Round Square Network of schools internationally. Traditionally they only exchange students between schools in this network but couldn’t find the right school for me.

This lead to my mother who suggested she contact King’s as my brother, Angus who is 10 years older than me came here on his exchange from Bishops Diocesan School and had the best time. St Cyps were happy for us to try and so the email winged its way from Cape Town to Bruton. Within 5 days, Ashtyn had bravely stepped up and the school exchange became one that also focused on hockey.

Ashtyn has written her own article on her experience, but having this bubbly, kind human in my Cape Town space felt like it was meant to be. Ashtyn was immediately absorbed into the St Cyps way of life, and no one knew she was new after day 1. I was able to share my passion of the African bushveld with her when we went to my aunt’s hotel in Limpopo, where Ashtyn learned a lot about and saw all of our wildlife. Ash’s parents, Dan and Raquel came to Cape Town for the last week of Ashtyn’s exchange, and got to share some of the experience themselves. They are such welcoming, warm, and fun people that I am now lucky enough to call my second family.

Then it was my turn to travel. I flew a week early to go on the 1^st Team preseason hockey trip to Cardiff, where I celebrated my birthday. I was instantly accepted by the team and made to feel one of them. Experiencing a different team, coaching, positioning and strategy has and is benefitting me in every way possible. I can’t wait to take everything I’ve learnt home and to have these valuable lessons with me forever.

Then to boarding school - another very new experience for me, but Arion, Griff (Mrs Griffiths the Housemistress) and all the girls have opened their arms making me feel like one of them. Boarding at King's is very different to St Cyps, eg: we start lessons at 7.40am but there’s hockey fitness at 6pm and band practice at 6.30pm etc. South Africa is a very early morning place - not always easy for me! School back home finishes at 2.45pm with no free periods and sport around 7pm so you go home in between. I love the ease of boarding school and how sport and music are incorporated with the school day. Being at King's has allowed me to be independent, which is not so easy in South Africa. South Africa is safe if you live in our self-imposed structures requiring our parents to lift and fetch us and to keep in touch at all times.

Academically, St Cyps and King’s are very different. We do an IEB Matric which consists of seven subjects and is very different to GCSEs and A Levels. Classes at King's are much smaller and more hands on, whereas at St Cyps we sit in classes of around 25. I have chosen to do Maths and Biology - which I do back home and Psychology and PE which are two subjects you cannot study for Matric in South Africa and have really taken my interest.

I would like to thank the Headmaster, Mr Wilmshurst, the St Cyps Headmistress, Mrs Frayne, and the Head of Exchange, Mrs Glover for letting me come on exchange. I also want to thank Mr Eriksson, Griff, all my teachers and all the learners at King’s who have welcomed and included me so comprehensively already. It has already been an experience of a lifetime (and I still have over 2 months to go!)

Jemima - L6^th Form, Arion House