The excitement of heading to Hong Kong grows for Holy Trinity Lutheran School grade six students Gemma Ruwoldt, 11, and harry Hollaway, 11, as they taste some Chinese cuisine before the trip. Picture: SAMANTHA CAMARRI
Ten grade six students at Horsham's Holy Trinity Lutheran School are preparing for an adventure of a lifetime.
The students will fly to Hong Kong on Wednesday for an 11-day cultural holiday with two teachers and two parents.
Principal Jeff Gork, who will go on the trip, said the students would be immersed in a different culture as part of the school's fifth annual exchange.
He said while visiting two partner schools that teach English, the students would navigate the streets of Hong Kong and learn to use public transport.
"They will gain an awareness of different cultures and that our culture is not better but just different," he said.
"The parents who have had children go to Hong Kong have noticed that the children grow up and seem to cope better with different situations.
"They also come back with greater confidence."
Mr Gork said the students prepared for the trip by learning how to use chop sticks on Friday.
He said after the students returned, 15 children from the two Hong Kong partner schools would visit Horsham.
"This program is leading them into learning Mandarin," he said.
Gemma Ruwoldt, 11, said she was looking forward to sight-seeing and using Hong Kong's public transport network.
"It is a whole different world over there and it is exciting to explore," she said.
"I'd like to see the Big Buddha and to make friends at the schools."