The International School-to-School Experience (ISSE) is a unique international program for schools that provides for the exchange of thoughts and ideas through face-to-face contact with children from other countries around the world. It is non-profit, non-political, and non-religious in nature.

The program gives all 10-12 year old school children the opportunity to experience and understand other cultures on a first-hand basis. It is an innovative approach for schools that realize the importance of international experience in modern school education.

We have hosted 6 students from Japan, Peru, Mexico (*3), and the USA. We've sent 2 of our 4 children to Mexico and the USA. It can be hard work, but like most things in life, the more you put in the more you get out. The benefits of the exchange program far out weigh the effort required. Each of the 6 students were different, for some the language barrier was huge, but it is amazing how laughter can get the message across. For others there were no barriers, a good sense of humour and an attitude to make the most of the opportunity make the distance from host to home seem so very small. Before you know it the 3 weeks are up, and the guest is packing their bags. They have become a true part of the family in the short period of time and parting can be a challenge. For the next 2 weeks you will find underpants, shirts and other articles in places you never expected, little tokens of the wonderful time shared with someone so young.

As parents we send our children off into the big wide world, out of the comfort of the bubble we cocoon them in. The apron strings are cut and their little independence allowed to assert itself. Communication may or may not be frequent, it depends on the teachers and the host family. Some believe no contact is the right thing, for others frequent contact is the way to go - but can have its down side. The internet and social networking allows an overview of the experiences, but the return has to be the best part. For some they didn't want to leave and can be a challenge on their return, for others the experience was one to be shared with everyone.

I recall the foreign language dictionaries, the laughter, the cultural cringe, the humour, the tears of joy, home sickness, and sadness of the departure, but most of all the friendships made that will endure for a long time to come.

 HELLO, I AM ANA. I HAD THE OPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN AN EXCHANGE IN MARCH 1997 TO AUTRALIA.

WHAT I LIKED THE MOST WAS THE FAMILY THAT I WAS WITH, ALSO THE SCHOOL THAT I WENT TO. I HAD THE CHANCE OF GETTING TO KNOW THE CLASSMATES THAT I WENT WITH MUCH BETTER.

I LOVED THE EXPERIENCE OF KNOWING A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY SUCH AS AUSTRALIA. I THANK MY PARENTS, MY SCHOOL SPRINGFIELD , THE SCHOOL THAT I WENT TO, THE FAMILY THAT HOSTED  ME, AND THE TEACHER THAT LOOKED  AFTER ME DURING THAT BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE.

 HELLO  I AM GABY. I WENT  TO ASTRALIA IN MARCH 1997, IN AN ISSE EXCHANGE . IT WAS AN UNFORGETABLE EXPERIENCE.

 I LIKED  EVERYTHING. SINCE THE BEGINnING TO THE END. I MET A LOVELY FAMILY FOR ABOUT THREEE WEEKS, THEY WERE A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY TO ME DURING THIS TIME. I LOVED THE SCHOOL, I ALSO EJOYED TO SHARE MY COUNTRY CULTURE WITH THEM.  ISSE ORGANIZATION AND BOTH SCHOOL  ORGANIZATIONS  WERE GREAT.  EVERYTHING WORKED OUT SO WELL. THE AUSTRALIAN FAMILIES I MET WERE POLITE AND NICE, THEY LIKED TO SHOW THEIR COUNTRY TO ALL OF US, THEY TOOK US TO MANY PLACES.  I THANK ISSE AND THE LOVELY FAMILIES WE WERE WITH.