Exchange Students
Just got this in an email after I wrote the latest post (see below).
WE ARE
>EXCHANGE STUDENTS
So much is said about being an exchange student, but only when you
experience it. Things make sense. It is definitely not easy and
whether you want it or not, you´ll end up changing and growing.
Once your exchange is done YOU finally realize that you can handle
way more than you could and would ever imagine. You need to
appreciate things you have because they might be gone sooner than
you think.
Life is not easy. True friendships are really forever. The best
part about being an exchange student is not about the parties or
places you get to go. Not the independence and life experience, but
the friendships. I´m not talking about the friends you made from
your host country but about the other exchange-student friends. For
most of us, they were the very first “friends” we had in this new
experience. We met them in orientation meetings or trips, etc. They
were the first people we actually talk to without having the fear
of speaking in a different language. No matter what, there´s a big
difference between “host country friends” and “exchange student
friends”. Exchange students have a special bond. Despite language
and cultural differences, you´ll understand one another because you
experience similar situations. The hardest part of facing the end
of your exchange year is to accept the fact that it´s gonna take a
while until you have the chance to travel the world to see your
exchange friends again. Because once you leave your host country,
deep down inside, you know
that sooner or later you´ll be back, but
when are you going to have enough money and time to travel the
world again???
Some of us became friends because we were placed in the same
schools, lived in the town nearby each other. Others we met along
the year, during trips and meetings… The trips… first day
nobody knows each other, everyone is shy… By the end of the trip
everybody knows everybody and says good bye in the last day is as
sad as when we left our friends and family in our home countries…
How many lifetime friendships and romances started with. “How can I
say this in your language?” It´s hard to believe that so much can
start from such a simple sentence! Does this story sound familiar
to you???
The very first trip, when
it is time to leave is not so terrible
because you have the whole year ahead of you, so the chances of
meeting everyone again are very big. Time goes by and your year is
slowly getting to an end. You have your last trip… Probably it
will be the very last time you´ll see most of your exchange friends
for “God-knows-how-many-years”… this feeling is just horrible!!!
It´s when you wish things would never end. When you wish you could
turn back time and do everything again, and maybe do what you want
but never had the guts to, like kissing that girl/boy or spending
more time with A, B and C… And there you are, saying good-bye,
fighting the tears and making promises to people that you could
never imagine you would meet in your life… Unfortunately, things
don´t always work as we want and not that everything is possible…
Once your year is done, it is when you realize who you will ALWAYS
miss the most. Your exchange friends spread all over the world. And
one day you´re gonna be at a Geography or history class and as some
countries are mentioned, you´ll think about your friends that are
half way around the world away from you, and you´ll have to fight
the tears again… Their occasional letters, phone calls and emails
are going to be of unbelievable value and will bring joy to your
bad day/week. And this is what this email is about. Most of us
never thanked these friends?and never said how much they mean to
us. So here it is ‘THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU? You are all
wonderful,
special and unique, and I´ve been made a better person
just by knowing you. You´ve made my year unforgettable. And I don´t
think I´ll ever forget the time we spent together! Hopefully we
will meet again someday!
Doesn´t matter how many miles keep us apart. I´ll always be here
for you.
The end of ourexchange year doesn´t mean the end of friendships. As
said before true friendships are forever? “As we go on, we remember
all the times we had together. And as our lives change, come
whatever. We will still be friends forever”. Send this to all your
exchange friends and exchange students you know!
I thought that was pretty cool. Might be of special interest to you Reese for some reason:)
