I couldn't wait to go back to Switzerland when I was in America, but now all I wanna do is redo my exchange year. I miss so many people. And the worst part is having not only American friends but also best friends living all over the world. And you just want to talk to them but it's really not the same to text or call a person, when you saw them everyday for a year. You just went to school and could tell each other everything. For a long time I thought I had a bad experience, but how can an experience be bad at all? With two great host families supporting me no matter what. And knowing that whenever you get back you will always have someone waiting for you. Can't thank the people enough who where truly a blessing to me in such a short time. But not only do I miss my friends and family but also did I never thought I could miss my boyfriend this much. We didn't get to know each other shortly before I had to leave, so we didn't have much time with each other. But he was also the most important person, during probably my hardest time. So after nearly 9 months of a long distance relationship I really just want to go back to Alabama.
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Another year has flown by. And I just feel like I've blinked and it all whizzed by. 2016 has brought along so many highlights, as well as challenges. The year started still in Alabama, actually Crossville and I am glad I got to spend the first day the of the new year with such amazing people. Later that month I went on a trip to Orlando. I had such much fun. Disney World was such a happy place. Great People-Great Time Valentines Day was great too, I had an amazing day with friends and the best Valentine I could wish for. Spring time was definetly one of the best times during my exchange year. I had crazy times with my host family and soon enough Raffaela came to visit me in Alabama. I had like the best spring break I could wish for. We had fun with the EF group at the factory. And with my host mom and brother at the Space & Rocket Center. I got the cutest prom proposal and Marco took us to the Caves with his little brother. I had a great time with Raffaela. After she left Prom was around the corner. Nothing like I imagined Prom is going to be like. After that everything kind of fell apart but got fixed by my Americam mom. And I never thought once, that I would get to the point I just wanted to stay. And then it was already time to say goodbye to America. I thought my exchange year was rough but the time that came up in Switzerland was way harder than I expected it. It was really hard to get back in my old life again. And my grand-mother passed away what didn't make things easier for me. After summer fall was exactly what I needed. Everything was alright again with my friends. I experienced the Red Hot Chili Peppers live! And I went to the Oktoberfest in Munich. And a lot of hiking was going on too during fall. For a great end of fall I went to Vallais for a long weekend trip with my family. The beginning of winter was not so great. But there's nothing to change that now, so I am not closer going to talk about this topic. In Novemeber I started to practice yoga regulary. My birthday was a success too. And then the hectict Christmas time already started. I got to hangout with a close friend I met during my exchange year. I am so glad I got to catch up with her. Before the new year. 2016 was in many ways a disaster. It was disturbing, wounding and eye opening. But I still can't complain, all those amazing things happenend and so many amazing people were surrounding me.
Let me read about your year in the comments. And want you want to read about next year! I haven't seen Tabea in forever. And we both were so busy getting back in our daily routines, nacl on track with old friends, and the school and various stuff. However I am so glad we finally got to see each other again. It is really hard to talk to friends which haven't been on an exchange year about your experience. We were just haning out, for hours talking about our lifes. It was weird getting to think about last year again, but it felt great to have someone who understands. I don't mean to offend any of friends, because I love talking to them as much but it isn't the same. There's been so much change in both our lifes after we came back. And it is good to now that you're not the only struggling with some things. The best thing was that after all this time we still could talk to each other like nithing has changed. The end of my exchange year came really fast. But in a few days I am gonna upload a blog post abbout my whole year and my experience. Since I've been back in Switzerland... My family and my two best friends came to pick me up at the airport. I was suprise I only expected my mom to come and get me. After some of my family members left, I went home, where my mom prepared brunch for me. I was really excited because breakfast is my favorite food. And I good bread! After one year with no real bread. I was craving Swiss food. Anyways after we ate, my friends and I went to Zurich where we met up with one of my best friends. He had school all morning and couldn't come to the airport. It was so weird to use puplic transportation and in general walking around in the city. Almost every time I started to talk in English. It was so weird the first few days.
For supper I went back home and spent some time with my family. Later that evening I met up with some other friends. Basically all of my first few back home I spent time with old friends. But I didn't feel like a part of the group. All of my friends got new friends. And I didn't fit in. I still don't feel completly comfortable with all those new people around, I feel like as if they don't like me. I was excited to come home, because all my exchange year I didn't really feel like I got any friends (For all my exchange friends please don't get offended by this), and when I finally was home I felt again like I don't have any friends. A lot of my friends changed or are not even friends with my friends anymore. It was just a lot to handle. Now three weeks after I arrived here, I still have to convince myself everytime to do something wit my friends, because I am afraid of the feeling to be left out. Just the other day I talked to a really good friend, who confronted me with the fact, that I don't seem really happy to be around my friends. And I told him all this, how I feel. And he made me realize that I have just been back for three weeks, for me it felt like I have been back for like three months. He told me to give it some time, to spend more time with my friends and getting settle in my group again. I feel like I have never been so busy in my life like right now. I am running around for my mom, my job that I am starting in August, and I just got a summer job at Mac Donalds. All in all I am trying to get as much done, as long as I can. Yes, I know I got really bad in updating my blog. But most part of the people who read my blog is anyways my family, so I try to keep them updated anyways. I have been busy those past few weeks.
There's a lot going on in this time of the year in America. Well my best danish friend had her birthday this month. In school we had so much going on. Like finals and other end of the school stuff. And on friday I graduated. And I spent most of time with my friends and my family. Well Penny keeps me busy, when I'm at home. I never thought during this whole year I'm gonna get to the point where I'm saying "I don't wanna go home." This year has probably been one of the most difficult things in my life. I wanted to give up so many times, and I'm so greatful for those people who kept me going, my family back home, who always supported me, my friend Julie, my RC and now hostmom Penny and Marco. Marco has been my best friend this whole year. And I couldn't wish for a better best friend than him. Every single day of my exchange year he has been here. Every time I needed someone to talk to, someone to help me, or ride, whatever it was he has been there. I seriously don't think I would still be here, if he wasn't my friend. Anyways I don't think in any other year of my life I learned more than in this. I am not talking education wise. I mean I have learned so much, about people, American culture, Mexican culture, and most likely about myself. There are some other things I wanna write about but I don't really know how right now. So, I am gonna say for now, that this past few weeks, made up so much for my whole year. And I am really happy with my life. I am happy for what I have. I have amazing people in my life. I have everything I need and I couldn't wish for more. I just wanted to say again how grateful I am for my Mother back home and for Penny my American Mom. I got 23 days left before I have to go home. A few weeks I go i just wanted to go home and I was so done with everything here. But I don't wanna go home anymore. Or at least not that soon. But I can't change the fact that I have to go home. On the other hand I'm excited to see my family and friends. But the more I talk about it, the more it gets real I have to get ready to go home. What I've been doing the past few weeks...The last week of April we had Eagle week in school. Everyday we dressed up different and we had several activities trough out the weeks. I have been to the fair with Marco and his little brother. I have been spending a lot of time with my friends and Penny. I have been involved in the preparations for the Musical production of the school.
The weather compared to Switzerland is great. Well, except from my allergies.
My weekend hasn't been that exciting. And on Monday after school we had a water balloon fight. It was a lot of fun. And for supper I got one of my favorite foods here. Today for supper we went to Asia Garden. And in my fortune cookie was written: "You will step on the soil of many countries in your lifetime." I hope that's true. This week we have Eagle Week in school. We dress up every day different. And there are diffferent activities on different days. Even though I have a lack of school spirit I'm excited for the rest of the week. So first of all I haven't been updating my blod lately because of various reasons. From now until I leave America I'm gonna update my blog 5 times a week. Now to what I've been up to those past few weeks. PROMOn April 9th, I had to wake up pretty early for a Saturday. I got my make-up done by the aunt of my neighbor. I'm so glad she had time for me and that Kayla made her do my make-up, she did a great job! Well then I had a little break, until I had an appointment to get my hair done. My other neighbor suggested me her hairdresser. And Amy did an amazing job on my hair. Well I rushed home to put on my dress before Marco is gonna pick me up. We went to take pictures at the lake. His cousin took pictures of us, and she made them look great. I had a lot of fun taking pictures with Marco and later with my two best friends and their dates at the lumpkin house. We all went to eat at Santa Fee. After we got done eating, we finally went to Guntersville where Prom was. It was a lot of fun even though I don't like to dance. Steven was dancing all night long, and yes he was dancing with all the girls. I had an amazing night, I will always remember. APRILI have been so busy during April and May is gonna be even worse. I have been to the land of Jessie and Mark and it was great. I love going to the land with them. I really started to like going to church. The past few weeks brought me a lot closer to God. I already had my exit orientation what makes going home feel even closer. I am kind of excited to go home and on the other hand really sad.I am gonna miss especially my host family really much. About to go home...Well at this point of the year I got a letter I wrote to myself before I came to America. When I got this letter I didn't even rember when I wrote it. But I want to let you know what I wrote and what i think now.
I told myself that I hope I had a lot of fun, I had some difficulties but I had tons of fun. I told myself to make new friends. I made friends, maybe not as I expected to make friends. Sometimes it is hard to tell what people are friends and what people are not good for you. I was hoping I'll have a great host mom. And guess what, I had the best host mom you could ever wish for. A women who loves you like her own child, and would do everything for you. I expected from myself to practice my English and even though a lot of people here make fun of my apparently funny accent, my English got a lot better. I don't think any of y'all want to read my letter to be honest. I told myself to be openminded, I think I am openminded but I probably could still work on that. I was afraid of making new friends at the school I'm going to after summer, but I am really confident that it's going to be easy. I told myself to learn about the American culture and get a better view of things. I did not only learn things about the American culture but also about the Mexican culture. I didn't quite got to experience what I expected to but I learned so much I'll never forget and will be thankful for in my future. I tend to complain a lot. A lot more than I should. I am really ungrateful. From now on I am gonna be grateful about every opportunity I get in life. There are only a few weeks here left and I am going to make the best out of those few weeks I got. MondayTo start the day we went to eat breakfast at the Huddle House. After we got done eating, Marco still wouldn't tell us, where we're going. And I had no idea until we passed a sign with Catherdral Caverns. We went on a guided tour for over two hours. It was really fun and we learned a lot. After the tour we got some time to look around by ourselves. For lunch we ate my favorite food. And a little later Marco took me and Raffaela home, where Kim made some great burgers. After supper we all decided to make homemade ice cream together. It was a great day. TuesdayI am now a mommy! ThursdayAfter we just rested on Wednesday. We got up early on Thursday. We went to hair dresser, where Raffaela got a hair cut. As soon as she got done, we drove our way to Huntsville. In Huntsville, we went to the Space and Rocket Center. It is an amazing museum. I learned a lot. Due to the weather a few things were closed. For lunch we went to Red Robin. And it was apparently my birthday. Before we went home, we went shopping. I had a great and fun day. FridayWe had a girls day, and went to get our nails done. After that we were hungry so we went to eat lunch and before we went back home again we bought a few things at the store. Me and Raffaela enjoyed our last day together. SaturdayRaffaela got picked up and went to the airport. Unfortunately we didn't really had time to say goodbye. But I'm going to see her in two month again. Even though I am sad that I have to leave soon, I am excited so see my family and friends. TodayI had a great spring break. I am so glad Raffaela came to visit me. And I hope she enjoyed it here and had a great time too.
I learned so much this past months and I am pretty sure I got much stronger. I had hard times and I am still having some hard days. But my family and friends are always behind me. And I am glad I took this opportunity to do this exchange year. Today wasn't really an exciting day. I tried to sleep in, but Raffalea keeps making noise early in the morning.
We mad pancakes for breakfast! Happy International Day of Happiness! We made ourselves ready and packed our stuff. Before we went to Kim and Denise's house we dropped off Steven at Jessie's. Thank you Kim and Denise for letting us stay with y'all for a few days. It was really fun today, we took Alice to Gadsden, where her host family met her to take her home. While we were waiting on them we went to Wallmart to get some groceries. When we came home we had some chili dogs, and we watched some interesting movies. I had a nice evening. |
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