Bellarmine welcomed 24 students from Loyola College in Melbourne, Australia. They arrived on Monday, Sept.18, and will stay a week here in Tacoma.

Visiting student Daniel Pipolo said the most memorable experience so far has been “meeting my host family, the Manzas.”

Another student, Julia Emmanele, said, “It is interesting to see the differing cultures like friend groups.”

However, not everything is completely positive. For examply, Washington’s roads were a surprise.

“I felt like I was going to die when we went through a roundabout,” explained Gabby Asta.

Students also commented on the wildlife in this area and compared them to the animals in their homeland.

“Kangaroos are like deer. They are really tasty,” Fabian Mueller admitted.

These students are in Washington State for a week and then they will head to Washington, D.C. and then Orlando, FL, for another two weeks.

A natural question that arises is “What do Bellarmine and Loyola College have in common?”

“You have sports and we have sports. You have a musical and we have a musical. You have the Examen and we have the Examen. We have many similarities, but also differences,” said Antonia Madia. One of the most significant differences she noted was the math curriculum where Bellarmine students had more choices in classes.

Although these 24 Australian students are only here for the week, Bellarmine students can see them again. From June 20-July 5, social studies teacher Ken Brown will take a group “down under” and they will meet up again with the fine folks who are here for this week.

For more information, see the bulletin board in the main hallway in the Administration Building.