In January, Abbey, 15, will be heading on a trip of a lifetime — flying north to participate in a 12-month Rotary Youth Exchange program in Taiwan.
For a year, Abbey will immerse herself in Taiwanese culture, embracing Mandarin, living with a local family, attending school and eating anything on her path.
“That’s probably what I’m most excited for — the food,” she said.
“I want to try everything.”
Abbey has had her eyes on this for a while but has had to wait due to the minimum age requirement of 15.
And after years of waiting, a gruelling number of interviews and hundreds of filled-out forms, she got the call that confirmed her wildest dreams.
“We were at the Tonny pub and I got a call … I went to a corner, and they told me that I was going to Taiwan,” Abbey said.
“I was like, oh, that’s really cool … then I went and told (my family) with a big smile on my face.”
To prepare for her journey, Abbey is honing crucial life skills: managing a weekly budget of $150 and dedicating time to learning Mandarin, her biggest challenge yet.
“I don’t know too much yet, but I have to prepare a speech, and I’m about halfway through that,” she said.
Just as Abbey is preparing, so is her family.
While excited for her, mum Katy said the house was already preparing for what life would look like once she was gone.
“She’s leaving on my birthday,” Katy said.
“It’s going to be very different around the house.”
They’ve also been preparing Abbey for what travelling alone will be like, allowing her to go on day trips to Melbourne on her own.
“She has to buy her own tickets, do all the bits and pieces like organising the timeline,” Katy said.
“People would probably ask why I’m letting my 14-year-old go to Melbourne on her own ... well, she’s going to Taiwan, so if I can’t cope with her going to Melbourne, I’m in trouble.”
In preparation for her departure, Abbey is actively seeking sponsorships from local businesses and organisations, offering to be an ambassador for Kyabram during her overseas adventure.
“This exchange is all about cultural understanding, personal growth and building global connections,” she said.
“It’s a huge step for me, but one I’m really excited to take.
“This exchange will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience and one that I’ll carry with me into the future.
“Support would mean the world and help me represent our local community overseas.”
If you’d like to sponsor Abbey on her trip to Taiwan, email Abbey.Taiwan@gmail.com
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