Thanks to all of my readers who have followed my blog this year! It means a lot! And thanks to everyone who has supported me along the way. I couldn't have done it without all of you! Truly an unforgettable year! VIVA CHILE MIERDA!
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Final Days
This year in Chile has quickly slipped away from me. I remember when I was able to countdown the months and weeks and now I am just left with days. It has been quite a year filled with many memories, new friendships, the longing to go home, many tears, joy, happiness, unforgettable trips and now the wanting to stay longer. Some days it all feels like a dream. I knew that eventually the last days would come, but it doesn't feel real that they are already here and it's already time to go home. It's very bittersweet.
Thanks to all of my readers who have followed my blog this year! It means a lot! And thanks to everyone who has supported me along the way. I couldn't have done it without all of you! Truly an unforgettable year! VIVA CHILE MIERDA!
Thanks to all of my readers who have followed my blog this year! It means a lot! And thanks to everyone who has supported me along the way. I couldn't have done it without all of you! Truly an unforgettable year! VIVA CHILE MIERDA!
Monday, June 3, 2013
Family Visit in Chile
A couple of days ago I said goodbye to my family. They had been in Chile for about 2 weeks! We had our reunion in the Santiago airport, I was returning from Easter Island and they were arriving to Chile the same day. Little did I know that there was another special reunion/surprise waiting for me. My cousin Paul and his girlfriend Emily were also waiting for me in the airport that night. I had absolutely no idea. It was absolutely amazing. And my cousin Paul got the reunion on video which is something I will always cherish. It had been about 9 months since I had said my goodbyes to my family. It was so nice to see them in person rather via Skype. A real family hug is what I had missed so much, so it was so great to get some big Briody hugs!
The adventure began in Santiago. Our first full day we took a small bike tour around the city. We saw both of the large markets in the city. One is the fish market, and the other is fruits and vegetables etc. This was only my second time in the city, so it was nice to take a tour and learn something about the city. It is a great city, but the pollution takes away the amazing view of the Andes Mountains that can be seen in the early morning, if you are lucky enough! That afternoon we took a visit to the Zoo. Early the next morning we took a day trip tour to Valparaiso and Vina del Mar. These places are still very nice even if we weren't there during the rush of summer vacations!
The next day my family and I continued our traveling and we flew to Calama and then took a bus to our next destination, San Pedro de Atacama. The Atacama Desert is the driest place on earth! It was my first time that I had ever been to a desert and it was amazing. We took a tour each day to be able to see all of the sites! Our first tour included, Valle de la Luna, Valle de la Muerte, and Las Tres Marias. When you look at the pictures, it is NOT snow that you are seeing. It is salt!
The next day we did see snow! Our tour headed into the Andes Mountain Range. And it got cold! Our first stop was Laguna Altiplancia. It is a salt laguna. It was absolutely breathtaking. From there we also stopped along the way to see other lakes that were close by. And we stopped for lunch on this tour with the group and this is a lunch I don't think any of us will ever forget... We had llama, and let me tell you something about llama meat, it does NOT taste like chicken. I myself only had a small bite, but I don't think that is something I will plan on eating again in the near future. It was not my cup of tea! After our lunch break that day we went to Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos. We were lucky enough and saw some flamingos in the reserve.
Then our last day in Atacama we woke up VERY early, 4am, to go and see El Geyers de Tatio. They were amazing as well. It was so worth waking up that early to see some of them erupt. It was very cool. Also another attraction of seeing the geysers are the natural hot springs that you can go and bathe in. Another first for me! All of the natural beauty that is in San Pedro de Atacama is just gorgeous. I am so lucky that I have the opportunity to explore these places in the world. I am so happy that I was able to travel to the North of Chile. It is a whole other world up there!
Then we were back on the bus to the Calama Airport. From there we would fly to Santiago and then to Temuco in the south of Chile to continue the Briody adventures. In Temuco we rented a car to drive while we were in the south. We stayed in Lican Ray. Right now Chile is heading into winter so there is a change of colors outside, especially in the south where it is less populated. The scenery reminded me of Vermont's fall. It was gorgeous. It was raining most of the days that we were there, but that actually made it perfect for one popular tourist attraction. One day while we were there we went to Termas Geometricas, hot springs. It was the perfect rainy day and the hot springs were perfect, some where even really hot. Another first to check off of the list! The place was located up in the mountains and it was peaceful and quite. Really nice! From the south we made our way to Chillan, my city where I live. On our way we made a stop in Concepcion, another city, we went to my first host brother's moms house. We went for dinner! They were so excited to meet my family and could not get over how tall my dad and brother were! They were impressed! But I was anxious to get back to my host family and friends so after dinner we drove another hour to Chillan, the final stop on the trip. My family ended up staying at my host families house, my host family was so excited to have them and meet them. Once again, they were shocked with the height of my dad and brother! The first day I took my family to my school to show them around and then to meet my classmates. As I have mentioned quite often, my classmates are like my other family, so for me it was really important that my family met them! They were so excited to finally see my family that I have been talking about all of this time! And that afternoon we went to the center/mall of Chillan were the market is and I showed them the plaza and cathedral! Chillan is pretty tiny,so there isn't too much to see! The next day we drove to Thermas de Chillan, which are the popular ski mountains in Chile. What an adventure that was. And that was their last day in Chile, the next day my family would drive to Santiago to catch their flight back home and I would head off to school!
I loved having my family come visit me in Chile. We are already talking about when the ski trip to Chile will be. I loved showing them where I have been living this year. I am so lucky to have them, I couldn't have made it through this year without their love and support. I had missed them so much, but when they came I felt right back at home. I have really learned that yes, my family will always be there for me, but that family in general is so important and I love my family so much and I don't know what I would do without them. So a big thanks to Paul, Amy and Justin and to the rest of my family and close friends as well. Thank you for making my dream come true, I have never been so happy with the decision of becoming an exchange student. My family's visit really ended my year on a great note!
The next day my family and I continued our traveling and we flew to Calama and then took a bus to our next destination, San Pedro de Atacama. The Atacama Desert is the driest place on earth! It was my first time that I had ever been to a desert and it was amazing. We took a tour each day to be able to see all of the sites! Our first tour included, Valle de la Luna, Valle de la Muerte, and Las Tres Marias. When you look at the pictures, it is NOT snow that you are seeing. It is salt!
Then our last day in Atacama we woke up VERY early, 4am, to go and see El Geyers de Tatio. They were amazing as well. It was so worth waking up that early to see some of them erupt. It was very cool. Also another attraction of seeing the geysers are the natural hot springs that you can go and bathe in. Another first for me! All of the natural beauty that is in San Pedro de Atacama is just gorgeous. I am so lucky that I have the opportunity to explore these places in the world. I am so happy that I was able to travel to the North of Chile. It is a whole other world up there!
Then we were back on the bus to the Calama Airport. From there we would fly to Santiago and then to Temuco in the south of Chile to continue the Briody adventures. In Temuco we rented a car to drive while we were in the south. We stayed in Lican Ray. Right now Chile is heading into winter so there is a change of colors outside, especially in the south where it is less populated. The scenery reminded me of Vermont's fall. It was gorgeous. It was raining most of the days that we were there, but that actually made it perfect for one popular tourist attraction. One day while we were there we went to Termas Geometricas, hot springs. It was the perfect rainy day and the hot springs were perfect, some where even really hot. Another first to check off of the list! The place was located up in the mountains and it was peaceful and quite. Really nice! From the south we made our way to Chillan, my city where I live. On our way we made a stop in Concepcion, another city, we went to my first host brother's moms house. We went for dinner! They were so excited to meet my family and could not get over how tall my dad and brother were! They were impressed! But I was anxious to get back to my host family and friends so after dinner we drove another hour to Chillan, the final stop on the trip. My family ended up staying at my host families house, my host family was so excited to have them and meet them. Once again, they were shocked with the height of my dad and brother! The first day I took my family to my school to show them around and then to meet my classmates. As I have mentioned quite often, my classmates are like my other family, so for me it was really important that my family met them! They were so excited to finally see my family that I have been talking about all of this time! And that afternoon we went to the center/mall of Chillan were the market is and I showed them the plaza and cathedral! Chillan is pretty tiny,so there isn't too much to see! The next day we drove to Thermas de Chillan, which are the popular ski mountains in Chile. What an adventure that was. And that was their last day in Chile, the next day my family would drive to Santiago to catch their flight back home and I would head off to school!
I loved having my family come visit me in Chile. We are already talking about when the ski trip to Chile will be. I loved showing them where I have been living this year. I am so lucky to have them, I couldn't have made it through this year without their love and support. I had missed them so much, but when they came I felt right back at home. I have really learned that yes, my family will always be there for me, but that family in general is so important and I love my family so much and I don't know what I would do without them. So a big thanks to Paul, Amy and Justin and to the rest of my family and close friends as well. Thank you for making my dream come true, I have never been so happy with the decision of becoming an exchange student. My family's visit really ended my year on a great note!
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Fotos de mi viaje a Isla de Pascua
Some of the 4th graders that we met at the school.
With Patrick and one of the moai on the island!
Perfect beach day!
Top of the volcano!
Beret and I cave exploring.
Another cave photo.
Breaking out the American flag with the moai statues!
*This moai statue is also known to be the most photographed moai on the island.
Mikke and I with the moai!
A moai statue that hadn't been completely carved out of from the rock.
The line of 15 moai!
Denmark and the United States!
Planting trees on the island!
Rotary; service before self.
The "fabrica" (factory) of moai heads.
The first moai statues on the island. These are the only statues that face the ocean.
More moai!
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Isla de Pascua
About a week ago I went to Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) with my Rotary group. To say the least, it was a once in a lifetime trip with the best group of exchange students out there! It was about a 5 hour plane ride from Santiago to the island. When we arrived at the itty-bitty airport we were greeted with flower leis! When we arrived you could immediately feel the heat and humidity.
Although, the island itself wasn't as tropical as I had thought it was
going to be it was very humid. We stayed in a very nice hostal, "Chez
Erika", which was less than a 3 minute walk to the main street of the
island. It was mostly filled with gift shops and some restaurants, very
small. Most people on the island get around by little motorcycles or
even dirt bikes and some old cars as well. It's a very small island. The island is a volcanic high island, every "mountain" you see is a volcano. Although, none of the volcanoes have erupted in millions of years.
Easter Island is known as the "belly button of the world" for it's location, meaning it is the center of the world. Along with that fact, I learned quite a bit about this very interesting island and the moai (head statues) that are all around the island. All of the moai on the island face inland besides the very first line of moai that face the ocean. The moai were created by the people of the island, they are known as "Rapa-Nui" that is also the language of the people on the island along with Spanish. The most famous of the statues is the line of 15 moais which is called, "Ahu Tongrariki". It was breathtaking seeing the statues, especially those. They are gigantic to say the least. It is absolutely amazing and I still can't wrap my mind around how the people actually created them. We went to both of the "fabricas" (factories) where the moai were carved out of the mountain side and also were the "hats" of some of the moai were made as well. The "hats" were made from special red volcanic rock and were rolled around the whole entire island until they reached the spot where the moai was. Something interesting that I also learned was about the moai that have eyes painted on them. This means that the spirit of the person is "alive" in the moai. There was actually so much that I learned on this island. There are so many stories that go along with every statue that you see.
Besides all of the amazing site seeing this trip was special in another way. We gave back to the community of Easter Island. One day on the island we went for an exhausting 2.5 hour hike to reach our destination of were we would then go on to plant 1,500 trees. Not too many people can say they have planted trees on Easter Island! It was some good work! Then after we had another 2 hour hike back to the bus! Us exchange students agreed that at this point in time of our exchange, we are just not cut out for that much exercise! But it was still worth it! And another day we visited the public school on the island and spent a couple of hours with some 4th graders. We gave them school supplies and some sport equipment to use. They were so cute and so excited to have us and show off their dances and song singing. It was a very rewarding afternoon!
Another day on the island we went to the top of one of the many volcanoes on the island. It was huge. It was right near the coast. It was a beautiful lookout where you could basically see the entire island. That afternoon we went into some caves. It was a lot of fun. We had to crawl around and watch our heads from the low ceilings. We went into about 3 different caves. And the last day on the island we spent the afternoon at a gorgeous beach. It was a perfect sunny day and the water was absolutely amazing. It was so nice to relax and swim!
These are just some of the highlights of the trip. There were plenty of other adventures! It was a great trip with Rotary and I am so happy that I went on it! If you are ever in South America, or want to make the long haul and have the opportunity to go to the island, it is very neat to explore!
Easter Island is known as the "belly button of the world" for it's location, meaning it is the center of the world. Along with that fact, I learned quite a bit about this very interesting island and the moai (head statues) that are all around the island. All of the moai on the island face inland besides the very first line of moai that face the ocean. The moai were created by the people of the island, they are known as "Rapa-Nui" that is also the language of the people on the island along with Spanish. The most famous of the statues is the line of 15 moais which is called, "Ahu Tongrariki". It was breathtaking seeing the statues, especially those. They are gigantic to say the least. It is absolutely amazing and I still can't wrap my mind around how the people actually created them. We went to both of the "fabricas" (factories) where the moai were carved out of the mountain side and also were the "hats" of some of the moai were made as well. The "hats" were made from special red volcanic rock and were rolled around the whole entire island until they reached the spot where the moai was. Something interesting that I also learned was about the moai that have eyes painted on them. This means that the spirit of the person is "alive" in the moai. There was actually so much that I learned on this island. There are so many stories that go along with every statue that you see.
Besides all of the amazing site seeing this trip was special in another way. We gave back to the community of Easter Island. One day on the island we went for an exhausting 2.5 hour hike to reach our destination of were we would then go on to plant 1,500 trees. Not too many people can say they have planted trees on Easter Island! It was some good work! Then after we had another 2 hour hike back to the bus! Us exchange students agreed that at this point in time of our exchange, we are just not cut out for that much exercise! But it was still worth it! And another day we visited the public school on the island and spent a couple of hours with some 4th graders. We gave them school supplies and some sport equipment to use. They were so cute and so excited to have us and show off their dances and song singing. It was a very rewarding afternoon!
Another day on the island we went to the top of one of the many volcanoes on the island. It was huge. It was right near the coast. It was a beautiful lookout where you could basically see the entire island. That afternoon we went into some caves. It was a lot of fun. We had to crawl around and watch our heads from the low ceilings. We went into about 3 different caves. And the last day on the island we spent the afternoon at a gorgeous beach. It was a perfect sunny day and the water was absolutely amazing. It was so nice to relax and swim!
These are just some of the highlights of the trip. There were plenty of other adventures! It was a great trip with Rotary and I am so happy that I went on it! If you are ever in South America, or want to make the long haul and have the opportunity to go to the island, it is very neat to explore!
Sunday, April 28, 2013
What's Coming Up Next!
I still can't wrap my brain around the fact that I only have 2 months left here in Chile. It's really sad to think about having to return back to the United States in such a short period of time after a year like this. Obviously I miss people from back home, but I also love my life here. It's a weird thought to have too, having to return back to like real life almost. But that is something I don't want to think about! I still have time here to enjoy!
There isn't much to update you all on since my last post, so here's what is coming up next!
In less than 2 weeks I am going on my final "big trip" with Rotary. I am headed to Isla de Pascua (Easter Island!). I am so excited to be reunited with my exchange student group of friends! And of course to be able to have the opportunity to travel to Easter Island isn't so bad either! I am really excited to go! Should be lots of fun. The day I come back from my trip my family is also in Chile! Reunited after about 9 months. I am beyond excited to have a real family hug. I miss my family so much! They are here in Chile for about 2 weeks. We will be headed to the Atacama Desert in the North of Chile and then make our way down to the southern part of the country and then to my city! I look forward to showing them where I have been living this year. I think they will be very surprised! And after my family leaves I only have a short 4 weeks left of my exchange.
It is crazy how fast a year can go by. I know I talk about this a lot how time has flown by, but it really has. I wish it would slow down a bit. I hate seeing my exchange coming to an end. I feel like I have so much to do and there won't be enough time. It has been a crazy ride and I hope my last 2 months in Chile are the craziest yet!
There isn't much to update you all on since my last post, so here's what is coming up next!
In less than 2 weeks I am going on my final "big trip" with Rotary. I am headed to Isla de Pascua (Easter Island!). I am so excited to be reunited with my exchange student group of friends! And of course to be able to have the opportunity to travel to Easter Island isn't so bad either! I am really excited to go! Should be lots of fun. The day I come back from my trip my family is also in Chile! Reunited after about 9 months. I am beyond excited to have a real family hug. I miss my family so much! They are here in Chile for about 2 weeks. We will be headed to the Atacama Desert in the North of Chile and then make our way down to the southern part of the country and then to my city! I look forward to showing them where I have been living this year. I think they will be very surprised! And after my family leaves I only have a short 4 weeks left of my exchange.
It is crazy how fast a year can go by. I know I talk about this a lot how time has flown by, but it really has. I wish it would slow down a bit. I hate seeing my exchange coming to an end. I feel like I have so much to do and there won't be enough time. It has been a crazy ride and I hope my last 2 months in Chile are the craziest yet!
Friday, April 12, 2013
Quick Catch Up
It's been a while since I have posted what is going on in my life here in Chile. It is sadly becoming real that my time here is slipping away. I know I still have 3 or so months left, but that is truly nothing. My family is visiting in about a month! I am beyond excited to see them, it has been way too long! I figured it out though, after their visit I only have 4 weeks left in Chile. Whoa. Like I say to some of my friends, I couldn't even picture myself sitting here in the first weeks of April 8 months ago in August when I first arrived. I didn't think the time would ever pass by, but like I have said before, it has passed by rapidly. I wish it would slow down a bit! I feel like I have so much more to do before I leave. But leaving is something I don't want to think about, at all!
Recently, or in the past month or so...I have changed families and started school again! I am now living with my third host family in Chile. They are great people. It is a big family of 7, although 4 of my older siblings live in Santiago together going to college. At home I have a younger sister, 15, she is awesome! I can honestly say this is the first time I have really felt like a part of a family and felt confident in asking for help from them. It makes me happy to be able to say that and to mean it. I am really excited for my real family to meet them.
School started again in March. It was great to be back after a pretty boring summer. I was so excited to see all of my classmates and friends again. Although it is extremely boring at times I am really trying to push myself to not be so lazy in school and try my best. Being at school here though has made me realize how much I really do miss school back in the States. I love school and when you aren't able to participate and understand everything it gets upsetting after a while. School is honestly one thing I do look forward to going back too, but I wish I could bring all of my Chilean classmates. They are all amazing. I love them so much! Like I always say, they keep me laughing and my spirits high!
I continue to look forward to what these next months bring to me as my exchange starts to sadly come to an end. People phrase an exchange year by; It's not 1 year in a life, it's a life in 1 year. I think that phrase could perfectly describe an exchange year abroad. You fit so many new experiences into such a short amount of time. You learn a new language, culture, and ways of life. I can still remember my first days at school when everyone was asking me questions and trying to get to me and I could barely communicate. And now I am able to look back and think, wow, look how far I have come. You grow so much as a person during your time abroad. For me, I have really found a better sense of who I am. From being surrounded by such strange things and customs you have to adapt and change a bit. You begin to live in two different worlds. Chile and Vermont are two separate worlds for me, and in a sense I am the same person, but I am also completely different in ways as well. I have grown up so much here, and continue to explore who I can become without all of my natural surroundings. It's like you are dropped off in the wild! But, one day your exchange year will sadly come to an end and that is when your year is over. You have memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. It's an amazing year, and I am so happy that it's a "life" I get to live.
Recently, or in the past month or so...I have changed families and started school again! I am now living with my third host family in Chile. They are great people. It is a big family of 7, although 4 of my older siblings live in Santiago together going to college. At home I have a younger sister, 15, she is awesome! I can honestly say this is the first time I have really felt like a part of a family and felt confident in asking for help from them. It makes me happy to be able to say that and to mean it. I am really excited for my real family to meet them.
School started again in March. It was great to be back after a pretty boring summer. I was so excited to see all of my classmates and friends again. Although it is extremely boring at times I am really trying to push myself to not be so lazy in school and try my best. Being at school here though has made me realize how much I really do miss school back in the States. I love school and when you aren't able to participate and understand everything it gets upsetting after a while. School is honestly one thing I do look forward to going back too, but I wish I could bring all of my Chilean classmates. They are all amazing. I love them so much! Like I always say, they keep me laughing and my spirits high!
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Exchange Students!
There are many Facebook pages to "like", blogs to follow, and tumblr pages to scroll through of photos of exchange students all over the world. Being an exchange student you begin to feel part of another community and even another world. All of these social media pages allow you to hear some crazy stories about other exchange students literally all over the world. We can all relate to most of the posts. It is a really cool thing to see what thousands of other exchange students are doing in their host country. It is truly an amazing experience and it is sad to be on the final couple months of my exchange in Chile. It's a year full of everything unimaginable. I am so grateful I get to make this a chapter of my life.
I wanted to share this post in one of the Facebook group pages I belong to. It is dedicated to us exchangers! It really describes a year abroad quite perfectly! It can also give a good insight to the outside world as to what we go through everyday on our exchange!
"Exchange is change. Rapid, brutal, beautiful, hurtful, colorful, amazing, unexpected, overwhelming and most of all constant change. Change in lifestyle, country, language, friends, parents, houses, school, simply everything.
Exchange is realizing that everything they told you beforehand is wrong, but also right in a way.
Exchange is going from thinking you know who you are, to having no idea who you are anymore to being someone new. But not entirely new. You are still the person you were before but you jumped into that ice cold lake. You know how it feels like to be on your own. Away from home, with no one you really know. And you find out that you can actually do it.
Exchange is thinking. All the time. About everything. Thinking about those strange costumes, the strange food, the strange language. About why you’re here and not back home. About how it’s going to be like once you come back home. How that girl is going to react when you see her again. About who’s hanging out where this weekend. At first who’s inviting you at all. And in the end where you’re supposed to go, when you’re invited to ten different things. About how everybody at home is doing. About how stupid this whole time-zone thing is. Not only because of home, but also because the tv ads for shows keep confusing you.
Thinking about what’s right and what’s wrong. About how stupid or rude you just were to someone without meaning to be. About the point of all this. About the sense of life. About who you want to be, what you want to do. And about when that English essay is due, even though you’re marks don’t count. About whether you should go home after school, or hang out at someone’s place until midnight. Someone you didn’t even know a few months ago. And about what the hell that guy just said.
Exchange is people. Those incredibly strange people, who look at you like you’re an alien. Those people who are too afraid to talk to you. And those people who actually talk to you. Those people who know your name, even though you have never met them. Those people, who tell you who to stay away from. Those people who talk about you behind your back, those people who make fun of your country. All those people, who aren’t worth your giving a damn. Those people you ignore.
And those people who invite you to their homes. Who keep you sane. Who become your friends.
Exchange is music. New music, weird music, cool music, music you will remember all your life as the soundtrack of your exchange. Music that will make you cry because all those lyrics express exactly how you feel, so far away. Music that will make you feel like you could take on the whole world. And it is music you make. With the most amazing musicians you’ve ever met. And it is site reading a thousand pages just to be part of the school band.
Exchange is uncomfortable. It’s feeling out of place, like a fifth wheel. It’s talking to people you don’t like. It’s trying to be nice all the time. It’s bugs.. and bears. It’s cold, freezing cold. It’s homesickness, it’s awkward silence and its feeling guilty because you didn’t talk to someone at home. Or feeling guilty because you missed something because you were talking on Skype.
Exchange is great. It’s feeling the connection between you and your host parents grow. It’s knowing in which cupboard the peanut butter is. It’s meeting people from all over the world. It’s having a place to stay in almost every country of the world.
It’s cooking food from your home country and not messing up. It’s seeing beautiful landscapes that you never knew existed.
Exchange is exchange students. The most amazing people in the whole wide world. Those people from everywhere who know exactly how you feel and those people who become your absolute best friends even though you only see most of them 3 or 4 times during your year. The people, who take almost an hour to say their final goodbyes to each other. Those people with the jackets full of pins. All over the world.
Exchange is falling in love with this amazing, wild, beautiful country. And with your home country.
Exchange is frustrating. Things you can’t do, things you don’t understand. Things you say, that mean the exact opposite of what you meant to say. Or even worse…
Exchange is understanding.
Exchange is unbelievable.
Exchange is not a year in your life. It’s a life in one year.
Exchange is nothing like you expected it to be, and everything you wanted it to be.
Exchange is the best year of your life so far. Without a doubt. And it’s also the worst. Without a doubt.
Exchange is something you will never forget, something that will always be a part of you. It is something no one back at home will ever truly understand.
Exchange is growing up, realizing that everybody is the same, no matter where they’re from. That there is great people and douche bags everywhere. And that it only depends on you how good or bad your day is going to be. Or the whole year.
And it is realizing that you can be on your own, that you are an independent person. Finally. And it’s trying to explain that to your parents.
Exchange is dancing in the rain for no reason, crying without a reason, laughing at the same time. It’s a turmoil of every emotion possible.
Exchange is everything. And exchange is something you can’t understand unless you’ve been through it !"
-Patricia
I wanted to share this post in one of the Facebook group pages I belong to. It is dedicated to us exchangers! It really describes a year abroad quite perfectly! It can also give a good insight to the outside world as to what we go through everyday on our exchange!
"Exchange is change. Rapid, brutal, beautiful, hurtful, colorful, amazing, unexpected, overwhelming and most of all constant change. Change in lifestyle, country, language, friends, parents, houses, school, simply everything.
Exchange is realizing that everything they told you beforehand is wrong, but also right in a way.
Exchange is going from thinking you know who you are, to having no idea who you are anymore to being someone new. But not entirely new. You are still the person you were before but you jumped into that ice cold lake. You know how it feels like to be on your own. Away from home, with no one you really know. And you find out that you can actually do it.
Exchange is thinking. All the time. About everything. Thinking about those strange costumes, the strange food, the strange language. About why you’re here and not back home. About how it’s going to be like once you come back home. How that girl is going to react when you see her again. About who’s hanging out where this weekend. At first who’s inviting you at all. And in the end where you’re supposed to go, when you’re invited to ten different things. About how everybody at home is doing. About how stupid this whole time-zone thing is. Not only because of home, but also because the tv ads for shows keep confusing you.
Thinking about what’s right and what’s wrong. About how stupid or rude you just were to someone without meaning to be. About the point of all this. About the sense of life. About who you want to be, what you want to do. And about when that English essay is due, even though you’re marks don’t count. About whether you should go home after school, or hang out at someone’s place until midnight. Someone you didn’t even know a few months ago. And about what the hell that guy just said.
Exchange is people. Those incredibly strange people, who look at you like you’re an alien. Those people who are too afraid to talk to you. And those people who actually talk to you. Those people who know your name, even though you have never met them. Those people, who tell you who to stay away from. Those people who talk about you behind your back, those people who make fun of your country. All those people, who aren’t worth your giving a damn. Those people you ignore.
And those people who invite you to their homes. Who keep you sane. Who become your friends.
Exchange is music. New music, weird music, cool music, music you will remember all your life as the soundtrack of your exchange. Music that will make you cry because all those lyrics express exactly how you feel, so far away. Music that will make you feel like you could take on the whole world. And it is music you make. With the most amazing musicians you’ve ever met. And it is site reading a thousand pages just to be part of the school band.
Exchange is uncomfortable. It’s feeling out of place, like a fifth wheel. It’s talking to people you don’t like. It’s trying to be nice all the time. It’s bugs.. and bears. It’s cold, freezing cold. It’s homesickness, it’s awkward silence and its feeling guilty because you didn’t talk to someone at home. Or feeling guilty because you missed something because you were talking on Skype.
Exchange is great. It’s feeling the connection between you and your host parents grow. It’s knowing in which cupboard the peanut butter is. It’s meeting people from all over the world. It’s having a place to stay in almost every country of the world.
It’s cooking food from your home country and not messing up. It’s seeing beautiful landscapes that you never knew existed.
Exchange is exchange students. The most amazing people in the whole wide world. Those people from everywhere who know exactly how you feel and those people who become your absolute best friends even though you only see most of them 3 or 4 times during your year. The people, who take almost an hour to say their final goodbyes to each other. Those people with the jackets full of pins. All over the world.
Exchange is falling in love with this amazing, wild, beautiful country. And with your home country.
Exchange is frustrating. Things you can’t do, things you don’t understand. Things you say, that mean the exact opposite of what you meant to say. Or even worse…
Exchange is understanding.
Exchange is unbelievable.
Exchange is not a year in your life. It’s a life in one year.
Exchange is nothing like you expected it to be, and everything you wanted it to be.
Exchange is the best year of your life so far. Without a doubt. And it’s also the worst. Without a doubt.
Exchange is something you will never forget, something that will always be a part of you. It is something no one back at home will ever truly understand.
Exchange is growing up, realizing that everybody is the same, no matter where they’re from. That there is great people and douche bags everywhere. And that it only depends on you how good or bad your day is going to be. Or the whole year.
And it is realizing that you can be on your own, that you are an independent person. Finally. And it’s trying to explain that to your parents.
Exchange is dancing in the rain for no reason, crying without a reason, laughing at the same time. It’s a turmoil of every emotion possible.
Exchange is everything. And exchange is something you can’t understand unless you’ve been through it !"
-Patricia
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