SCONE HIGH SCHOOL students and their families bid farewell to a group of Korean boys that they had hosted for 10 days as part of an interschool program. The families bid their farewell on Monday night, August 25.

Scone High School principal, Lindy Hunt said the visit encouraged both the Korean and Australian students to increase their tolerance and cultural awareness of people from other countries and exposed them to a different lifestyle.

The cultural exchange also encouraged the Korean students to practice their English more.

Korean teacher, Chong-Soo Seo who accompanied the boys from Jang-ang Middle School at Jeju Island in South Korea said the visit has stimulated the students desire to learn English more as they enjoy communicating with the Australians.

“We had a very good time, the Scone city is very kind and friendly,” Mr Seo said.

The cultural exchange program sees the students from Scone High School and the Jang-ang Middle School visit each other in alternate years.

Next year the Scone students will visit South Korea and then they will visit another part of Australia in 2010.

Mr Seo said the visits to Australia are very popular at his school in South Korea and said last time they came to Australia there were 12 students, this time there were 19 and the numbers were higher because of the good things the last group said.

While in Scone the students stayed with local families and visited Arrowfield Stud, Bengalla Mine, Burning Mountain, played sport and had lessons in English as well as Aboriginal music and art, even the farewell barbecue was unique for the visitors.

“Everything that our kids experience is totally different to Korea,” Ms Hunt said.

Margaret Flanagan’s family hosted one of the students and her children taught him to muster stock and ride a motor bike.

“Our boy has learnt how to crack a whip which is really great,” she said.

“I think my three boys and our family benefited just as much as he did and hopefully he will take a little bit of Australia with him.”