In America, Anna Cardy loves surplus water, her three hundred year old rental house, and Dining Hall food. In New Zealand, she loves acting, her three older siblings, and “balls” (the New Zealand equivalent of prom).

For the rest of the school year, Anna will be taking Fifth Form classes, playing thirds tennis, and performing as the doctor in the one-act called “Mia.” Her journey around the world came as a sort of happy consequence of her parents, who are working stateside (based out of Boston) for three months.

Anna has attended the Diocesan School for Girls in her hometown of Auckland her whole life. A majority day school, “Dio” includes the American equivalent of kindergarten through twelfth grade. Out of the 170 students in each grade, only around ten girls board. The urban setting means the school grounds are smaller than Groton’s. Unlike Groton, uniforms and bagged lunches are required, while sports and arts are not.

In search of a school in the Boston area, Anna stumbled upon Groton after family friend Dr. Black suggested setting up a mutual exchange. Anna looks forward to hearing from the girl who visits New Zealand, because “Dio is really different from here.” Groton has made no indication yet of who that may be.

Ten years ago, Anna’s family did a similar exchange to England, living in a town close to Oxford. Her father worked as a minister at a local parish, while her mother worked as a pediatrician at a local hospital. “It took ten years since we last went away to figure out this process [of exchanging],” said Anna.

When it comes to her classes here, Anna finds Spanish challenging because the curriculum in America places more emphasis on speaking than grammar: “To have the whole class communicating with the teacher in Spanish is way beyond New Zealand.” However, her World History class is especially interesting because it picked up right where her one at home left off, smoothing the transition.

Since her parents are here working, the three Cardys have set up in a three-hundred year old colonial home in Westford. The house is “really funky,” said Anna, but “very cool.” There’s a well in the backyard, a huge crack in her bedroom floor, and even a secret room where people used to hide during attacks. But Anna’s far from unfamiliar with moving, as she has lived in nine different homes in Auckland.

Anna has adjusted to life at Groton well, despite coming midway through the infamous Fifth Form spring. “I like being with people,” she said, “and although people always have loads of work, everyone have been really friendly.”

A tip for anyone who wants to make a fast friend: Anna loves answering any “annoying” questions you may have.