USA Exchange Programme 2025
14 January 2026 - All
At the end of last term, three LV pupils travelled to the United States to take part in an exchange programme with Greenwich Academy in Connecticut. Staying with host families, Vera, Emmy and Tiya experienced American school life and discovered how it differs from their own.
Here’s what they shared:
Vera:
‘My exchange partner and I clicked instantly and spent lots of time getting to know each other. The first day of school came around quickly and I was so excited to meet everyone. They were all so welcoming and kind, asking so many questions about life in England.
There was always something fun to do in and outside lessons, my favourite being our daily trip to get cookies from the cookery lab after Spanish. Time after school was also fun, as I made many trips to the local high street (called the Ave), and even some trips to Target and Trader Joe’s with my host mum. She showed me so much of the area around Greenwich, bringing me to all of her hidden gem locations. One night, I even did a tennis session at her local tennis club!
It felt like as soon as it started the exchange was over, and I had the time of my life!’
Emmy:
‘Going on the exchange to Connecticut was an incredible and unforgettable experience. From the moment I arrived, I was warmly welcomed and immediately felt comfortable with my host family.
At Greenwich Academy, I was able to try subjects I have never done before, such as Personal Finance, US history and Italian. I especially enjoyed Italian as my teacher was very friendly, and my classmates were very supportive. I was also very grateful to get the chance to tour the hospital my host dad worked at, which was such an eye-opening and interesting experience.
Visiting New York was such a significant moment in the trip as I have always wanted to go. I saw Bryant Park, the Rockefeller tree glowing with Christmas lights, SOHO, and Times Square.
Everyone I met whilst on my exchange are people I will be close with for the rest of my life. They filled my time with happiness, laughter and love. I am so grateful to the staff who made this possible and strongly encourage anyone thinking of applying to go for it, it’s truly worth it!’
Tiya:
‘At the start of our trip, we were greeted by our Exchange partners in the airport with lovely posters to welcome us. It was amazing to meet Elettra for the first time.
On the first weekend, I visited New York which was so much fun! We explored Bryant Park, the Rockefeller tree, Radio City and Times Square. It was amazing to be there at Christmas time as everything was festive and cheerful. On the final weekend, heavy snow made everything even more magical, I spent lots of time sledding and building snowmen with Elettra.’
This exchange embodies Wycombe Abbey’s commitment to Global Impact and Future Focus, creating meaningful opportunities for pupils to develop global perspectives and cultural understanding. Experiences like these challenge us to step beyond what feels familiar and see the world through a different lens, expanding horizons and sparking curiosity, both valuable skills that will shape future leaders.
Ms Claire Leong, Director of Global Links, commented: ‘To build cultural understanding, you have to suspend what you know and give space to other ways of living and learning. It’s exciting and challenging to reflect on what we assume is normal and realise it’s only normal for us.’
We were so proud to see the girls practising these skills in Connecticut and we look forward to offering more pupils the chance to take part in similar opportunities in the years ahead.
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