Exchange Students in Co. Tipperary have Community Reunion

Submitted by Gen on 16 February 2010 - 2:21pm

On Saturday, 24th January, 2010 students of the Clonmel/ Cashel/ Cahir host community had a get-together at their local coordinator's home. Susan Phelan hosted the event so that the international students of the community could gather and socialise with one another. As many of them attend different schools and live in different areas, they do not get the opportunity to mix and meet all that often. Also, Susan wanted to welcome and introduce to the group two new exchange students who arrived in early January. 14 students attended and their host families were also welcome to pop in and out as well.

Those who attended were: Tamiko Kehrer, Nicolas Kratzch, Katherine Schneider, Teresa Manogg, Helena Kontny, Anne Schlueter, Simone Beyer,  Sarah Bischoff, Ludwig Welde of Germany, Takafumi Komito of Japan, Jin Young Park and Hunbin Lee of Korea, Stephanie White of Australia and Thomas Mederic of France. Susan with her female exchange students: Susan Phelan visits with her girls at a recent reunion of exchange students in her host community in January 2010. Susan hosted 14 students at her home so that the students could meet and visit with one another during their long term Secondary School Programme. The girls are staying with host families in Cahir, Cashel or Clonmel and attending school here in Ireland.

Host mothers Kim Connolly O Grady, Bernie Phelan, and Jo Kelleher had tea in the kitchen with Susan while all the students chatted and caught up with one another. In the sitting room in front of a big roaring fire they snacked on crisps, sweets and minerals and the room was a buzz with talk and laughter. Other host families came and went to call in and say hello to everyone before heading off again. They all enjoyed being there; this gives the students a sense of community when they get to meet up and relate their experiences to eachother. It may have been only a few hours together, but as exchange students are away from their own friends and family for so long, it is nice for them to sit and relate with other students who are going through the same emotions and experiences.Student reunion in Co. Tipperary: Susan Phelen, Local Coordinator in Tipperary, poses for a picture with her students at their last gathering in January 2010 . She introduced Mederic Thomas of France who arrived just a few weeks before (pictured on her right) to other students who have been in the community since August. This informal social gathering gave students an opportunity to meet and catch up since their last group outing back in the Autumn.

As group excursions can be costly for the students, just having the opportunity to meet and have fun together is what really gives them a feeling of community and also gave the new students familiar faces to say hello to in the local area. The gathering was much appreciated and enjoyed by all that attended.