Excited for the experience, the 16-year-old Year 10 student is set to travel to the small town of Barrow-in-Furness in England tomorrow, where he will spend the next four months attending school and learning more about English culture.
Jay first learnt about the opportunity when his family hosted a young girl from Belgium about three years ago.
“That was where I first learnt about it, but then I went on a leadership program last year and that got me used to being away from home,” he said.
“I like traveling and I think this will be a gateway to that.”
Established in 2001, the World Education Program gives students from ages 15 to 18 who are enrolled in schools across Queensland, NSW or Victoria the chance to spend time in countries across the world.
Keen to be placed somewhere in the United Kingdom, Jay was intrigued when he found out about his new hometown Barrow-in-Furness.
“It was a really long process and I had to wait several months for a family,” he said.
“I have chatted to my host family a few times now and they seem nice, they’ve never hosted an Aussie before.”
An avid soccer player and Earl Grey tea enthusiast, Jay said he was looking forward to seeing the sights and spending some time in Europe.
He has also been busy learning more about the political climate of the area, with the help of his dad.
“This will be my first time in the UK,” Jay said.
“It’s an exciting time over there, so I think it will be really interesting.”
During the exchange program, Jay will be in Year 11 at Ulverston Victoria High School.
“There is no school uniform, so that will be a nice change,” he said.
Jay will return home on January, 18, 2020.
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