Rebecca's Experience

This has been one of the best experiences I have had at Ursuline. I was hosting Mbali, and we had been texting for a couple months before she got here and we were already close friends when she arrived. Mbali and I got to do so many things in St. Louis, such as the Zoo, the Art Museum, we went to the Loop, the Chesterfield Valley and more. But no matter what we were doing we were always laughing and having fun. The trip was so short for them but I know for me I have enough memories to last a lifetime. By the end of the trip Mbali and I were already planning when I should come visit her in South Africa.

Caitlyn's Experience

I was so happy to get the chance to host Jade! I knew nothing about South Africa and couldn't imagine what it would be like to host her. I anxiously waited for the day she would arrive but as soon as we met at the airport we immediately became friends. I knew then that this week would be amazing. She was so fun to be around and I learned so much about her and where she is from. Jade helped me open my eyes to other cultures and explained some of the differences we have such as words and proportion sizes! I loved hosting her and miss her already along with all the others I got to meet. I hope we stay in touch and I get to visit her soon in South Africa.


Although their trip was short we got to do lots of things. We went to the cardinals game, Ted Drewes, Forest park, the zoo, Lumiere park, the Snow Factory, Fitz's, Crushed Red and the mall. However, my favorite times were when we would sit in our room and just talk about our lives together and laugh at each other's accents. We would compare our schools, boys, and friends and we were able to become very close. She was no longer just a host student that I only knew from snapchat and Instagram, but became my sister for a week. I will forever remember this week and cherish our memories. I hope to do this again soon because my family and I loved having Jade stay with us!

Madi's Experience

I'm so blessed to have been apart of the Global Education program here at Ursuline. Hosting an exchange student from the Ursuline in South Africa has been such an amazing experience. In one short week I have grown to love my exchange student, Nosi, as a sister. Over the week Nosi was able to join right in with my family. From the first day we were already laughing all together at the dinner table or teaching her new board games for family game night. Nosi and I were also able to spend lots of time together outside of school and family activities. On Saturday I was able to take Nosi shopping and I learned very quickly how much she loved to shop! It was a lot of fun showing her all new stores and helping her pick things out to bring home to her family.

I was fortunate enough to take Nosi all around St. Louis but my best memories with her were just riding in the car together or hanging out in my room before bed. She loved that I could drive and thought it was so funny that we drove on the wrong side of the road. I may have gotten lost a couple times in forest park but it was still always so much fun. I will never forget the memories we shared together and hope that one day we can make some more in South Africa!
Saying goodbye was a very hard thing to do when you have become so close with your student. I know my whole family wanted to keep Nosi longer and be able to spend more time with her. My sisters loved having her around and still ask how she is and what she's up too. I wish Nosi the best in college and am already planning my trip over to see her!