This report was written by Izzy F, Linda L, and Miuccia X, reflecting on their exchange trip to Santa Catalina, an all-girls boarding school in the U.S.

This half term, Linda, Miuccia and I visited Santa Catalina, an all-girls boarding school in America, which was a completely different experience for us. The school felt very different from ours – the students had more independence and a lot more phone time! One thing we really enjoyed was attending classes that we don’t have at Downe, such as Marine Biology and 3D Media. These were our favourite classes, while Miuccia focused on art.

We also got to watch water polo and volleyball matches, which was exciting since these sports aren’t as common in the UK. The students’ school spirit made the events even more entertaining. Despite the differences, the students and teachers were welcoming, and we quickly felt comfortable.

On the weekends, we explored more of California. We visited San Francisco, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, spent time at the beach, and tried American classics like In-N-Out. Shopping at Target was especially fun because it was full of Halloween decorations. Celebrating Halloween in the U.S. was a highlight of our trip because everything felt bigger and more festive.

We also enjoyed trying different restaurants and even experienced an American cinema. Overall, this exchange was exciting and eye-opening, and we would highly recommend it to others.