Juniors from Hutchesons Grammar School in Glasgow, Scotland, Raj Lalli and Aidan Muir, joined the Colorado Academy community in October as part of our exchange program with the school. The boys, who were hosted by juniors Jack Funk and John Barron, spent their time attending classes at Colorado Academy, touring the University of Colorado, as well as the Colorado State Capital where they met with legislators and representatives from Gov. John Hickenlooper’s office (and actually posed for a picture with the governor, which was later posted on Twitter).
After returning, Aidan sent us a message about his experiences:
“It is hard to believe that the Colorado exchange has come and gone so quickly. I had just gotten used to the altitude when I was taken 1500 more meters into the mountains for a party, celebrating my host and his teammates’ victories at the state tennis championships. This was a great way to meet the people I was to become friends within the next fortnight and I was touched by how enthusiastic and welcoming all of my classmates at CA were. In three days I was completely in love with Denver, the mountains, the people, and the school. Perhaps the most striking and impressive thing about the students at CA, and citizens of Denver generally, was their attitude to healthy eating and exercise. Twenty-four-hour gyms were everywhere and the snack of choice: granola. Young people would go on hikes in the mountains with their friends to pass the time on weekends, high school sports matches would pull crowds in their thousands, teachers and pupils alike could be found every day after school using CA’s outstanding sports facilities. The school offers a vast choice of subjects ranging from Algebra to Russian Literature to Mandarin, and the teachers taught classes with the excitement and vitality one might expect from a university lecturer. My host family, the Barrons, were impossibly kind and accommodating and I already feel that I have made a lifelong friend in John, my exchange partner. If given the opportunity, I would return to Denver in a heartbeat. I urge anyone and everyone to apply for this exchange – it is a highly educational and transformative experience.”
Says Upper School principal Dr. Jon Vogels, “We are so pleased to hear about the positive experience Aidan had while getting to know Colorado and our campus. We look forward to sending our own students to Scotland in October 2015 where they will attend regular classes at the Hutchesons Grammar School, explore the Scottish countryside, and visit the Scottish Parliament, meeting with elected representatives.”
Learn more about the Scotland exchange and other travel abroad opportunities by visiting our Travel and Exchange page!