Global Exchange Programme at Riverdale Couuntry School New York, USA
A group of 6 boys and 6 girls of class 12 – Aarnav Gupta, Devnandan Beniwal, Dhairya Asrani, Dhananjay Sindhwani, Harshiv Chawla, Ira Kalra, Naina Sabharwal, Rahini Bansal, Riddhima Singhania, Siddharth Jaiswal, Tvisha Gupta, and Twisha Garg – from Modern School Barakhamba, accompanied by Ms Sonia Kapoor and Mr Naveen Chopra, participated in a student exchange programme with Riverdale Country School, New York, USA, from 25 September to 5 October 2026. The programme was designed to give students meaningful exposure to a different academic environment, culture and way of life, while also allowing them to represent their own school and country.
During their stay, the students attended classes at Riverdale Country School, interacted with teachers and students, explored the campus and took part in group discussions and activities. One of the most significant aspects of the exchange was the opportunity to stay with host families. This experience allowed the students to observe daily American family life closely and taught them to adjust to unfamiliar routines, communicate independently and become more responsible in a new environment.
The itinerary included several important educational and cultural visits in New York City. The students visited the Empire State Building and Fifth Avenue, explored Lower Manhattan and the Staten Island Ferry, and attended the Broadway production of The Outsiders. A guided visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art introduced them to diverse artistic traditions and historical periods. They also visited prominent landmarks including Grand Central Terminal, the Chrysler Building and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Another memorable part of the programme was the presentation given by the Modern School students on their school, Delhi and Indian culture, which encouraged meaningful cultural exchange.
The exchange taught the students that cultural differences are often found in small everyday habits rather than only in major traditions. Learning to recognise and respect these differences without judgement made them more adaptable and empathetic. By the end of the programme, the students had become more comfortable stepping outside familiar surroundings, forming new relationships and handling unfamiliar situations with maturity.
Overall, the exchange strengthened the students’ communication, confidence, independence, adaptability and teamwork. It gave them a broader understanding of cultural differences and similarities, while helping them become more observant, open-minded and globally aware individuals.
