I feel it is fitting that I write a sort of "closing" post to sum up this exchange year even though this will probably not end up being my last blog post. I plan to update everyone every so often throughout the coming months to share how all of my grades end up transferring, as well as how my year abroad affects my college plans. Feel free to contact me at any time to ask questions about Rotary Youth Exchange or what it MEANS to be an exchange student abroad. I would be more than happy to answer your questions as quickly and thoroughly as possible.
So... After being back in America for just under a month I find myself thinking less and less about Germany, and more and more on the present. It kills me to say it, but Germany seems a bit like a dream- sometimes I can't believe it really happened! I feels so LONG ago- like a distant memory, or a dream! ... I still feel like no one except other exchange students truly understand what last year really meant to me, but I'm okay with that. I guess my it is kind of like my little secret that I have inside of me. My year is a unique part of me- something that will never leave me.
I still think about Berlin every day- I still am dreaming in German - and I love all of the amazing people I met in Germany. I miss it so MUCH...but I feel like it is time to move on. Its time to focus on other things now than my exchange year. I know that my year in Germany was the most important, most influential year of my life... but I have had a whole month to get back on track and now I need to start thinking about my future- finishing high school and finding the right college.
All I can say in closing is THANK YOU of you people who took the time to follow me in my adventures in Germany this year. It really gets me excited to think that all over the world, exchange students are getting ready (or just starting) their year abroad. To all of you outbounds reading this... this year ahead of you will change your life. Go into it with an open mind and HAVE FUN! It is over soooo quick! (you'll hate me for saying that because it doesn't feel fast until it is over).
It was a pleasure to write- I hope you all enjoyed my far from grammatically correct blog, and possibly gained some insight to a year abroad through rotary youth exchange. I wouldn't trade my year for the world! It changed me, it changed my prospect on the world, and it taught me immeasurably more than I ever thought I would learn my Junior year.
So... After being back in America for just under a month I find myself thinking less and less about Germany, and more and more on the present. It kills me to say it, but Germany seems a bit like a dream- sometimes I can't believe it really happened! I feels so LONG ago- like a distant memory, or a dream! ... I still feel like no one except other exchange students truly understand what last year really meant to me, but I'm okay with that. I guess my it is kind of like my little secret that I have inside of me. My year is a unique part of me- something that will never leave me.
I still think about Berlin every day- I still am dreaming in German - and I love all of the amazing people I met in Germany. I miss it so MUCH...but I feel like it is time to move on. Its time to focus on other things now than my exchange year. I know that my year in Germany was the most important, most influential year of my life... but I have had a whole month to get back on track and now I need to start thinking about my future- finishing high school and finding the right college.
All I can say in closing is THANK YOU of you people who took the time to follow me in my adventures in Germany this year. It really gets me excited to think that all over the world, exchange students are getting ready (or just starting) their year abroad. To all of you outbounds reading this... this year ahead of you will change your life. Go into it with an open mind and HAVE FUN! It is over soooo quick! (you'll hate me for saying that because it doesn't feel fast until it is over).
It was a pleasure to write- I hope you all enjoyed my far from grammatically correct blog, and possibly gained some insight to a year abroad through rotary youth exchange. I wouldn't trade my year for the world! It changed me, it changed my prospect on the world, and it taught me immeasurably more than I ever thought I would learn my Junior year.
Hi Ben,
I followed your journey through your blog and it has given me a lot of insight as to what my daughter is about to do next month. She is also going to Germany with Rotary. Thanks for all of your stories of transition and acceptance! At one point you mentioned that you would have loved to have an electronic translator. Is that something you still think would have helped? Welcome back! Julie McGinn
YES! it would have helped me so much!
During the first months of school you have no idea what is going on.. I wish I would have had a translator to help me decipher homework or handouts. It takes A LOT of time looking things up in a dictionary and gets quite overwhelming at times... sometimes I didn't look up words I wanted to just because I was sooo sick of flipping through a dictionary! Your daughter will be learning new words EVERY SINGLE DAY... an electric translator would help her tremendously. (that is, if she is the type who is dedicated to learning German)
thanks, thanks, thanks... now I know what grandma and grandpa can give her as a gift! She is all about learning German. She leaves on September 9th!
I feel so lucky to have met you and to be apart of your exchange year.
I'll never forget you Ben !
All my love from Australia x
Amazing blog. Probably one of the best I've ever read and now I definitely can't wait to actually be there experiencing it all. Thanks so much
I've heard it said that one form of loneliness is to have a memory and no one to share it with.
I've found this to be true.
My "rebound" year is officially over.
Because I went by "Eliska", Slovakia was never far from my mind.
My year abroad hurt me deeply, and my rebound year was a year of healing. But just as some parts of the year scarred me, other parts were very, very precious. Both parts were mostly tucked away, hidden in my heart. Sometimes I'd talk about being an exchange student. Mostly I wouldn't. Then again, I went straight to college, so no one knew.
Welcome home, and welcome to year 3 of changes.