Flying over the Pacific from New Taipei, Alen Chuang is making Junee home for the next 12 months.
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The 16-year-old Taiwanese boy is the first rotary exchange student Junee has hosted in at least 15 years.
“On the drive back from Sydney I could see his eyes wide looking out at the broad, wide spaces, no houses no industry,” Junee Rotary treasurer Neil McKenzie said.
“He probably got the biggest surprise of his life when he drove into little Junee, coming from a town of close to 4 million people.”
Mr McKenzie and his wife will check in with Alen weekly and provide support as his councillors.
Alen said he’s “happy and excited” to be here and looking forward to “trying a different life.”
He’s current staying with the Phillips family. 15-year-old Jasmine Phillips will travel to Taiwan next year for her exchange.
Alen said he’s looking forward to helping her with her mandarin.
As a general rule, students stay with three families for four months each throughout their exchange. Junee Rotary is still on the hunt for a third, with anyone interested encouraged to get in touch.
In strict Taiwan, school starts at 7.30 am, so he got a sleep in before starting at Junee High School today.
