A foreign exchange programme for students at Bermuda High School has been reinstated after a three-year hiatus.

The Round Square Trip and Exchange Programme saw seven Year 10 students take advantage of experiences in Colombia, Paris, Colorado and Japan, and two Year 9 students spend a month in Britain.

BHS, the only Global Round Square Member School in Bermuda, said the programme offers students the opportunity to experience different languages at other Round Square schools.

Later this year, students will travel to Britain, Tanzania and Brazil for Round Square conferences and service projects.

Tessa Kearns and Sophie Kulkarni ventured 12,000 kilometres to the junior and senior high school of Kogakuin University in the Hachioji prefecture of Tokyo, Japan.

Ms Keams said: “To say I learnt a lot would be an understatement and I could not put into words how it changed my perspective on a lot of things that I had never considered before.

“I came away from this experience with a lifelong connection to my host family, the Japanese culture, quite a few Japanese phrases and words, and a general understanding of my place in the world.”

Ms Kulkarni added: “I definitely gained an appreciation for the Japanese culture as the temples, buildings and lifestyle are so different to our own. I think going on an exchange helped me understand the nuances of that culture and I would absolutely recommend this experience to anyone.”

Sage Benevides, a Year 10 student, spent a little over a month at the Colegio Grab Bretana in Bogotá, Colombia.

Reflecting on her trip, she said: “This trip was a great experience which pushed me outside my comfort zone through travelling alone and being in a country where I don’t speak the language.”

BHS has also welcomed numerous students from Colombia, Canada and the United States in the past year, and later this year it will welcome students from Tokyo, Paris and South Africa.

Linda Parker, Head of School at BHS, said: “Being a Global Member of Round Square, opens incredible opportunities for our students. By experiencing life in a different country, these students come home more mature and confident, with new friends, improved language skills and an appreciation for a new culture.”