“The exchange was a recurring reminder of how cultural differences and where we live truly shape our characters,” Emma Paulus ‘26 said. “I got to find people who make me so happy who I probably wouldn’t have been close to otherwise.”
While many officially began their summer vacation after graduation last summer, six GA students traveled across the Atlantic together and immersed themselves in a new country, school and culture as a part of an exchange program with the Tranby school in East Yorkshire, England.
Emma Paulus ’26, Hugo Simonetti ’26, Layla Gentile ’26, Katie Martin ’25, Laney Sanni ’25 and Taryn DiFranco ’25 were all paired with a Tranby student and their host family. Accompanied by Upper School librarian Ms. Mary Fraser, students traveled to popular UK destinations such as York, London and Edinburgh, while also being immersed in a new country’s schooling system.
On the days in school, GA students accompanied their host partner to each of their classes. British secondary schooling differs from American high schools most notably with their curriculum set-up. Rather than having a required core curriculum, students choose three subjects to concentrate in and take a deep dive into them, especially in their last two years. Their studies conclude with important exams at the end of their year 13 (American 12th grade), and their performance on the exams are vital in determining where they attend university.
Specifically at Tranby, the school differs from GA most notably in its size. However, GA students noticed there were some similarities that reminded them of home in PA.
“Tranby is an incredibly small school, where the entirety of it can fit basically in our Honickman Auditorium,” Paulus said. “But the suburban nature and farmland and stuff in East Yorkshire felt like Pennsylvania, and a lot of the people we met were so kind and sweet to us.”
Venturing outside of the classroom was a highlight for both GA and Tranby students as well.
Students spent two days in London, where they visited iconic attractions such as the London Eye, Winston Churchill War Rooms, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Kings Cross Station, and the British Museum, and even watched a musical in the West End.
“Everything in England and all of the parts we went to seemed like a fever dream with how beautiful it was,” Simonetti said. “London was the best when it came to this. From the buildings to the history and the attractions that I only see on my phone, it was all just so much nicer than most places in the U.S.”
Students also spent two days in Edinburgh, Scotland, where they visited several famous attractions such as the Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh Castle, Calton Hill, Edinburgh Underground Vaults and the Scott Monument.
“The most memorable part of the trip was sitting on Calton Hill in Edinburgh watching the sunset and talking with the whole group,” Gentile said. “We all connected and bonded with each other in new ways, and it was such a small moment in time that I will never forget.”
“Edinburgh was really fun. I hadn’t been there in ages and it was the first time I’ve been when the weather has been nice,” Tranby student Finlay Lough ’25 said. “A standout memory for me was all of us watching the sunset in the grass on top of the hill in Edinburgh, that was really nice.”
The GA students learned a lot in just ten days about English and Scottish culture, from Irn-Bru soda in Scotland to understanding common British sayings and 11 p.m. summer sunsets. However, they also left a lasting impact on the British students that they stayed with.
“I’ll always remember the unique perspective of Britain you guys gave us,” Tranby student Andrew Lough ’25 said. “You picked up on things we just don’t think about after living here for all our lives.”
GA will welcome Phoebe Proudfoot ’25, Ruby Bunting ’25, Finlay Lough ’25, Andrew Lough ’25, Carys Harding ’25, Luka Rowden ’25, Will Anderson ’25 and faculty sponsor Ms. Nikki Carrizales from Tranby to GA in late October.
Their experience in the US will mirror GA student’s experience in the UK, spending some time in class at GA and also visiting some major cities such as Philadelphia, New York City and Washington DC.
“I’m really excited for all aspects of the second leg of the exchange,” Proudfoot said. “I must say that New York City is particularly exciting, because its iconography is so famous across the world.”
While the Tranby students are excited to dive into the cultures of major cities in the US, they are equally excited about trying various fast food restaurants like Raising Cane’s and popular stores like Walmart and Target.
“I was most looking forward to going to New York – obviously it’s a very famous place and in loads of movies and stuff, so it was great to experience that,” Andrew Lough said. “But I really liked going to Walmart and seeing America’s ‘bigger and better’ food.”
For both sides of the exchange, this experience has been an unforgettable one with friendships that will last a lifetime.
“I realized how big the world really is and how there are so many people with unique lives and backgrounds,” Simonetti said. “If it weren’t for this program, I never would have met any of the English people or been able to experience what it’s like to live in England and other different places. The trip is more than worth it, and it is truly a great life experience.”