Jodie spent her six weeks, from December 3 to January 10, with Emily and her parents in Mattitck, Long Island, New York, during the height of the freezing winter.

“I have never been so cold in my life,” Ms Davidson said.

“At the end of my six weeks I finally got used to not wearing six jumpers and then I had to come back to the heat.”

“Seeing and playing in the snow made it all worth it.”

As part of the Rotary Student Exchange Program Jodie attended classes at the Mattitck Cutchogg High School.

“It was so different, but so good. It is exactly like what you see on television,” she said.

Her studies during this time included physics, Spanish, calculus, economics, film study (video year book), English and gym.

“They take gym very seriously, it is always a competition.”

While undertaking her studies Jodie was able to experience a very unique tradition that no Australian student has ever encountered, a snow day.

Jodie’s accent was a point of interest for her host family and the people she met along the way.

“They thought it was cool.”

“They tried to get me to insult them but they just found it funny.”

She also had to read out an Australian poem with each English lesson because the teacher liked the accent.

To bring a small piece of Australia to the United States of America Jodie took with her a jar of vegemite.

“They all hated it and thought it was disgusting,” she said.

“I made them some ANZAC biscuits, which they liked, so I left them the recipe.”

To make the most of her trip to the United States Jodie’s host family spent a few days in New York City and Washington DC to allow her to take in the sights and sounds of their culture.

“We went to Time Square before Christmas and I have never seen so many Santas on the street,” she said.

She saw the Rockettes play at the Rockefella Centre, the ballet perform the Nutcracker, peered from inside the Statue of Liberty and visited the monuments in Washington DC.

Jodie said she had a wonderful time during her stay in America and is eager to get back there soon to catch up with her new friends and see more of the country.

“I have learned so much, I got to see a whole new culture and it was great,” she said.

“I must thank my family, Rotary and the town for all their help in making this trip possible, everything I have learned will stay with me forever.”