Many reside in high-rise apartments in one of the world’s largest cities. 

For this week, at least, 15 South Korean school students will experience family life in comparatively tranquil Yass.

Rather than getting by in a city home to 10 million people, international visitors here as part of a Yass High School-South Korean exchange program will embark on camping adventures, engage in a spot of motorbike riding, have the opportunity to meet a Cheetah at Canberra’s Zoo and drop by on our pollies’ stomping ground at Parliament House. 

Students and teachers from Hogye Middle School in Seoul on Monday afternoon arrived by bus to an audience of Yass High School hosts. 

The 15 visiting pupils, along with principal Yu Jum Hyeong and teacher Kim Soonjee, will stay with the families of Yass High School students until their departure home in early August.

Many of the Seoul-based students’ families will return the favour to their Yass High School counterparts in late September. 

The exchange is an opportunity Yass High School principal Sandra Hiscock did not want her students to miss.

“Moss Vale and Goulburn High Schools have been doing this for some years,” Ms Hiscock explained. 

“Our kids have limited exposure to other cultures, so hopefully this helps change that. Our families are very generous with their time and are happy to open their doors.” 

Ms Hiscock admits neither her own schooling experience nor professional career in the education sector have provided such an opportunity to engage with foreign cultures.

As such, she and the staff at Yass High School jumped at the chance. 

“I grew up in country schools and we were never lucky enough to have this opportunity,” she continued. 

“Obviously there’s a lot of work in doing something like this. The paperwork is immense, but there are lots of advantages. 

“We’ve had a lot of kids taking up overseas exchanges in the last three years. When they’ve come back, they’ve flourished.”

Cathy Grear was among those on hand to greet the school’s international visitors on Monday.

The Grear household will host Hogye Middle School student Gyunee Kim. It’s the second time they’ve played host to a South Korean school student this year.

“It’s a nice opportunity to see their culture with ours,” she explained. 

Wendy Kelly was also present at Monday’s arrival.

Her daughter, Amy, will spend two weeks in South Korea during the September-October follow-up exchange. 

It’s only fair that the Kelly family plays host this time around.

“I’m really excited for Amy’s opportunity,” she explained.

“Twelve months is a long time for an exchange student, but 10 days is nice. It broadens their exposure and lets them see beyond Yass, but they’re not away from their families for a whole year.

“It’ll be great for Amy. It will make us a bit more comfortable with us seeing Amy over there.”