Most students are staying for a short amount of time, between one to two months, dealing with the challenges of a Tasmanian winter, a whole new school system, and the food.

Abby Hillier from Westfield, England, said there was some school subjects in England that were “quite a bit” ahead compared to Australia, particularly in science, but otherwise the changes weren’t too major. 

“The way schools, it’s all quite familiar especially for me, the fact that the teachers know who you are, it’s been great to be here,” she said.

Her host, student Alice Baty, said the experience of welcoming another person into her home was a positive one.

“On some things it’s the same, we have some similarities, but in other’s we’re really different,” she said.

South African student Daniel Fraser, who is visiting for six weeks, said the geographical differences were most noticeable for him.

“There’s not as much big cities, but there’s lots of wildlife and open fields,” he said.

“There’s more community here … a lot of people that you feel like you know, if you go to the shop you’ll know people on a first-named basis, it just makes you feel more part of the community.”

For him, the education level was much the same, although some differences in the teaching approaches.

Tessa Krisanti, however, said there was some noticeable differences between her education system at home in Bali, Indonesia, and her studies at Scotch Oakburn.

“My school is an environmental school … we don’t have uniforms, we wear what we want,” she said.

“But here I have to get used to the uniforms and also the subjects and the classes – a lot harder.

“In my school we just learn about the sciences in general.”

Another student missing warmer climates was Kaitlyn Chin from California, USA. 

“Since we’re in the middle of summer it’s definitely a contrast,” she said.

“Everybody knows everyone in town because it’s so small.”

The close quarters of Launceston proved a surprising change to driving 30 minutes to visit her school friends at home in the Bay Area.

“I think academics here are little bit more loose … we have different class offerings and here there’s only three classes per day,” she said.

For several French students, differences were particularly clear in Australia’s emphasis on computers and digital literacy in classrooms – and strange food options, such as two-minute noodles and Bunnings sausage sizzles.