Program exposes students to life in England

Valdosta group didn’t visit simply as tourists.

‘It shows how different the world is. Everybody has a different lifestyle.’ Simon Lynch Student, 14

VALDOSTA — In June, for the 20th year in a row, a group of seventh- and eighth-grade Valdosta students traveled to England, exploring the sights and hearing a whole lot of “cheers” and “mate” along the way.

The exchange program between Valdosta City Schools and Colne Community School and College in Colchester, England, is the longest-running one of its kind in America, according to Jennifer Steedley, public relations director for the school system.

The 17 students didn’t simply visit as tourists. They each stayed with an English student and his or her family, allowing the students to be immersed in the everyday culture during the 10-day trip.

The Valdosta students were already familiar with their British buddies. The English students had traveled to Valdosta in January and they had been connecting through social media for months prior.

The students said England is more different from South Georgia life than they thought it would be. The differences are small but they added up.

Benjamin Roesch, 14, said the food has way less sugar and salt in it. Sage Steedley, 14, said the houses are smaller and people talk faster. The sun rose at 4 a.m. and set at 10 p.m. while they were there.

Simon Lynch, 14, said English people don’t do a lot of snacking at home, a popular pastime in America. Maggie Barr, 14, said the schools are way less strict and students their age come and go as they please throughout the day.

“It shows how different the world is. Everybody has a different lifestyle,” Simon said.

The students got to see English education up close when they spent a day at Colne with their buddies. They also got to see the historic, iconic sites of London, such as Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey.

Benjamin stayed with an English student whose father is a Freemason, so he got to explore parts of St. Paul’s Cathedral that are off-limits to everyone else.

Some students went to the top of the Shard, the tallest building in the United Kingdom (1,000 feet tall) that “almost touches the clouds.” Sage got to witness part of Trooping the Colour, a royal celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s birthday.

All the memorable moments in London almost never happened, though. Days before the students left Georgia, terrorists attacked Londoners with knives and injured dozens.

Less than two weeks earlier, a bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester left 22 adults and children dead and scores more injured. There was even a third attack in London the day after the students left for home.

The violent attacks caused the school system to cancel the group trip to London. The change was like a punch in the gut for Jennifer Steedley, who wanted her daughter to have the full English experience.

“You can’t go all the way over there and then not go (to London),” she said.

The students were still allowed to visit London with their individual families as long as parents gave written permission. Many did.

“This was something our family had looked forward to for so long and that could happen here,” Jennifer Steedley said. “So in my mind, that’s how I had to process that. Yes, she’s going to another country, and yes, there’s crazy things that go on, but (the English families) probably look at our media, sending their kids over and felt the same way.”

In the end, everyone stayed safe and discovered another culture along the way. Parents and students alike said they were glad for the “eye-opening” opportunity.

Additionally, students said they’re grateful for the bond forged with their English counterparts, a connection they’ll keep for years to come.

“We got a new best friend basically,” Maggie said.