Ororiseng Molai (16), a Grade 10 learner at Evander High School, is back in South Africa after a month-long student exchange programme in Egypt.

She participated through the AFS Intercultural Programme, which sent about 40 exchange students from South Africa and other countries to Egypt.

Molai landed in Egypt on July 18, where temperatures soared to about 40ºC, and began a two-day orientation before meeting her host family.

“The orientation taught us how to integrate our culture with theirs and how to deal with homesickness,” said Molai.

Her host family included Rania Hafez (host mother), Jayan Ahmed (host sister), their grandfather, known as Gedo, and the family dog, Neno.

She only received her host family’s details on the day of departure, and her first impression was pleasantly surprising.

“They were really nice people. It was late in the evening when I arrived, so they cooked a quick pasta and beef dish,” said Molai.
Thankfully, the host family could speak English.

“They treated me like family and not a host child. They really did their best to accommodate me.”

During the exchange, Molai visited the Egyptian Space Agency, BP Egypt, the Pyramids, the Mediterranean Sea, and New Cairo, and also went zip-lining, among other activities.

“I also attended a tech programme, which is a renewable programme that takes people from under-funded towns and helps them to get work. They showed us how they built a simplified, low-cost motherboard that remains accessible to the public,” said Molai.

She learnt Egyptian hieroglyphics, Arabic calligraphy, basic Arabic language, dance, and counting.

“After spending a month with the host family and fellow exchange students, I became emotional when it was time to leave,” said Molai.

She walked away from this experience with a new South African friend, Siphokazi Felezweni, with whom she keeps in contact. Molai asked the exchange students to sign her South African flag.

She said the programme was a life-changing experience for her. She would like to go on such an exchange programme again. In her first interview with the Ridge Times, Molai said she was a very shy person.

“What I have accomplished out of this programme is that I don’t think I am that shy anymore. I am more open to people and answer more questions in class. I know a lot more about science and history. I am bad at robotics, but I could manage in a way that I would get the task done,” said Molai.

Her advice to young people is to go with the flow.

“If you have doubts, try it. If you’re still scared, try it again. Being scared takes away opportunities for you. Do what you want and do what you don’t want. Do everything,” said Molai.

She strongly recommends that youth apply through a reputable exchange programme like the AFS Intercultural Programme. Molai is back at school, caught up on her schoolwork, and is busy with her third-term tests.