Ontario, Canada: A Life Changing Exchange

I believe that a good teacher is always learning - about themselves, the world, their students and more. And whether you believe that or not, going on exchange is going to literally throw you into the role of a learner. Everything you thought you knew, everything that was secure and comfortable, everything you thought you were - is about to be challenged.

Going on exchange forces you to open your eyes to the world around you, forces you to adapt, change your ways, accept change, listen, flex, grow and ask questions. From the moment you board the plane, life is not as you once knew it!

It's better!

In fact life could almost be divided into two time zones, Before Exchange and After Exchange. I'm serious - that's the affect it has on your life.

My husband was not as eager as I was to exchange - he's not a teacher and he was in a comfortable rut. After a serious round of winner takes all "rock-paper-scissors" challenge - I came out the victor. We were off to Toronto for 12 months!

It wasn't always easy - in fact at times it was a struggle. Keeping up with the drinking of the other Aussies on exchange was probably our hardest task. Although having said that I think my husband would argue that shovelling a foot of snow from the driveway in -35 degrees was probably quite difficult as well.

Then there was the travelling. Niagara Falls, New York, the Rockies, Quebec City, Vancouver, Paris, Miami, Halifax, Montreal... knowing where you were when you woke up was almost a crisis.

Naming local animals, learning to drive, eating enough Tim Horton's to last a lifetime, spending all our money on souvenirs and remembering to email loved ones at home almost proved impossible.

But seriously we learnt so much. About ourselves, our relationship, our professions... about others, about friendships, about the beautiful country of Canada and more. With a lifetime of memories we returned reluctantly to Australia confident and more aware of ourselves, hugging our memories to us, feeling grateful for all we had to return to and making a promise to ourselves to try and live each year like it was an exchange.

But of course you can't. A year on exchange is a chance to leap out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. It's a chance to take risks, travel, meet people and learn more. It takes you back to your youth where you believe that anything is possible and you are capable of achieving all you set out to do.

As I said, being on exchange makes you a learner.

So, if you are thinking about an exchange and you are willing to become a student in your own life then GO FOR IT!