Last December, just days before Christmas, I found out my acceptance into the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. Later in February I learned that my exchange would be taking me to Chillan, Chile for my entire junior year. At that point I couldn't believe that my dream of following the footsteps of my many older cousins, and my dream to travel to South America were coming true. It never really hit me until the day I was crying in the airport and saying goodbye to my parents for a year. There are still days where I can't believe that I have been living in Chile for almost 5 months now and knowing that I still have 5.5 months or so left. It sounds like a lot of time, but if I have learned anything, time passes by extremely fast and I know the day of crying in the airport saying goodbye to my host family and friends will unfortunately be here sooner rather than later.
I have learned so much than I ever thought I would in such a short period of time. I feel like I have become a very different person here in Chile. Of course I am still the same old Emma, but certain things I know have changed for sure. I am a lot more optimistic, which I think is necessary while you are an exchange student. Not everything goes as you planned or thought it would be. This exchange has been a roller coaster of many different experiences. I still can remember my first night here with my host family. I cried myself to sleep and questioned what I was even doing. So glad those days passed. Now my host family is truly my other family. There are difficult moments too and the holidays seem to hit me the hardest, but I know that it is all part of the experience. I am very close with my family in the United States, so missing out on traditions were the hardest for me. But I was also a part of new traditions here with my new family. Not everything is going to be the same, obviously, but all of the culture differences and traditional differences makes this exchange that much richer. I have had so many amazing experiences so far, and thousands of memories that will last a lifetime. I have made amazing friends that are so supportive, funny, helpful and truly just the best people out there. I am so lucky to have met the people I have. I am always so lucky to be with a great group of other exchange students that are in my district here in Chile. It feels like I have known most of them for my whole life. They are another family here too, and it's great to have all of them! I know the bonds with my friends and family will just become so much stronger over the next half of my exchange. I have no idea how I will ever say goodbye!
As I head into my second half of my exchange year abroad I want to really make sure I don't waste a single minute. Time goes by fast, and I want to experience everything that I can. I don't want to be trying to fit everything into my last month! I want to really focus on my Spanish. It is coming along pretty well, but I really want to be confident and speak, speak, speak as much as I can! I just want to enjoy myself and to not be scared to try something new. I want to soak up as much as Chile as I possibly can!
I am truly having the time of my life and I have never been so happy with a decision before. It is exactly what I needed. This is exchange is an eye-opener and it really teaches you life lessons and things about yourself that you would have never known. I am so grateful for my family and friends and all of their support. I couldn't be doing this without them! I can't believe I have been away from my little home state of Vermont for about 5 months now. Feels like forever, but then sometimes it feels like I just left last week!
Viva Chile, Mierda!
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