Throughout my experience in a foreign country I have learned a lot of about myself and what I value in life. What I have found that I value a lot in my life is my friends and the relationships that I have been able to build while experiencing a new culture and all the experiences that come with it.
I will never forget all of the amazing best friends I have made. Being exchange students creates a special bond between people because we understand what the other is going through and we can cry together and laugh together and it is all as easy as if we were talking to a friend of 10 years back in our home countries. I can’t believe that in just a few short months all of my best friends will go around the world and not be able to see each other whenever we want to. Even though those thoughts make me sad I feel calm knowing that I can visit many places in the world and have close friends. Having these friends from many cultures, I have realized that as exchange students we don’t just experience the culture of our host country but that of all of our other fellow students that we come to know and connect with.
Having these sort of friendships is vital to having a good experience during an exchange and to feel at home. It’s weird to think that we can be thousands of miles away from home, and still feel as though you are home. I’m grateful and will forever thank rotary for giving this amazing experience and opportunity to have the adventure of a lifetime. This will forever change my life for the better and I will never forget all of my friends that I have made abroad. And when my friends split up and we go back home they will take a piece of my heart all over the world.
