This story is part of the July 14 edition of Sunday Life. See all 14 stories . Leaving home at 15 was Mum’s idea.
I must have sensed it would be formative as I still remember her words, even now at 41. “I’d love you to join the school’s German exchange.” Neither she nor I foresaw how profoundly it would shape my life.
After 15 years of living in a familiar way, I was immersed in a culture that was worlds apart. I transcended being a tourist to living as a local. My new home was a small village of half-timbered houses, reminiscent of a real-life Cinderella story, with cobblestone streets and quaint shops adorned with lace curtains.
Fittingly, the Grimm Brothers, famous for collecting and sharing fairytales, had lived and worked nearby. Kellie Floyd (far right) and her German “parents”, Gerlinde and Thomas in 2023 (25 years later). Leaving the comfort of Melbourne’s suburbs, I discovered a new depth of self-assurance that I hadn’t known before my exchange.
It took courage to speak a foreign language, especially when those around me spoke English more fluently than I spoke their native tongue. Every day brought unfamiliar situations, but I found the courage to embrace everything new, supported by my incredible exchange family. Their guidance and encouragement helped me navigate this new world, turning any concern I had into resilience, and any uncertainty into growth.
My German sister and I took a tram to school in a neighbouring city, where English was taught .