Trident High School has launched its new International Student Programme with the first group of 11 students arriving over the past two weeks.

The group includes nine students from Germany and two from Japan, who are now settling into their new school and host families in Whakatāne.

Trident High School has previously hosted short-term stays for international students from Japan, China, and Taiwan, but this new initiative has students staying longer-term.

Eighteen-year-old Daniel Neunzig, from the historic city of Aachen in northwestern Germany, decided to come to New Zealand after hearing about it from his sister.

“She came to Whakatāne High School for an international programme and told me about her experience. I thought it sounded great,” he said.

Daniel is attending Trident for six months and a visit to the South Island is on his bucket list.

He’s also excited to be studying subjects that are not available to him in Germany, where education is more academically focused.

Woodworking and product design and engineering with metal are among the subjects he has selected.

“These are completely different – I’ve never done anything like this before.”

Miri Marumo, who is turning 16 soon, comes from the bustling metropolis of Tokyo and is finding Whakatāne a refreshing change.

“There’s not much nature in Tokyo, and I love oceans and nature. It’s very beautiful here, and that’s the main reason I came,” she said.

Miri, who is here for one month, is also enjoying the subjects she’s chosen, including physical education, photography, history, Japanese, and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages).

This is her first overseas trip, and improving her English is just one goal. “I wanted to experience a new country’s lifestyle,” said the Year 11 student.

She is also amazed at the choice of subjects students have in New Zealand.

“I was very surprised we can choose our subjects because in Japan we do 12 subjects but have only once choice, music or art.”

Collin Gluch, 16, is from Hamburg and is getting used to the different lifestyle and schooling.

“I’m from just outside Hamburg, but it’s very different here. There’s not much public transport, but it’s a lot quieter and more relaxing.”

Collin, who is at Trident for a year and a half, said he had always wanted to travel.

“I wanted to meet new people, make new friends, and have a good time. I also heard about the sports and subjects I could try, and that I could live by the beach and go surfing, those were mostly the reasons I came here.”

The learning environment is noticeably different here, he said. “In Germany, I didn’t use laptops. We used paper, pens, notebooks, and a chalkboard. Some students had iPads, but I didn’t.”

All the students are enjoying living with their host families.

“It’s five minutes to the beach, and I can see the ocean from my house,” said Collin.

Daniel is living in a more rural setting with a teacher, while Miri is staying at West End.

Trident High School principal Mikaere October said the school had several activities planned for the 11 students, who have already visited Mount Maunganui, done a physics trip to Rainbow’s End, and a kiwi walk on Monday night.

“We’re going to Rotorua next week, which will be fun,” said Mr October.

“We always visit Hobbiton. I got the students to write down what they’d like to do – things like seeing a kiwi and attending a rugby game, while surfing was at the top of the list.”

Mr October said the programme was a great opportunity for the international and Trident students.

“In the Eastern Bay, we are very much bicultural, with scatterings of other cultures, so this is great for our student cohort. And for the international students, it’s a real taste of a quintessential Kiwi school.”

The principal said the cohort was fully immersing themselves in extracurricular activities.