House Exchange America

An exchange student at age 17

An exchange student at age 17

by Elaine Abonal

It almost feels like it was yesterday when I was on a plane really does not know what to expect, but happy for what the future was for me. Now I'm back at home with a lot memories, e-mail response, and many stories to share. I do not even know where to start, now that I'm writing about my experience of being a student exchange in Appleton, Wisconsin for a year throughout the school.

Well, I wanted to be an exchange student in my high school life. I read about Summer programs in the IFS brochures, and I thought then that friends who live elsewhere for some time and have another country would be better the world. Myself I am my own Indiana Jones adventure, and realize my dream of having something different. Soon, the end of my last year, Mom and I went to the implementation of IFS, and I decided that a year would do much more immersion and the experience much better. I had meetings at the weekend on the rules, how to survive, nostalgia, etc. Then I got an e-mail. I had a host family! The next thing I knew I had a flight booked.

I was so excited and happy and told all my friends. Wisconsin I was researching in books and on the Internet. Compared with what I saw on TV and what I experienced when I traveled to places like Los Angeles, California with my Wisconsin family was different. It was more farmland and countryside. I lived in Appleton and its population was about 70,000 and I thought it was a small town compared with our Manila. There was no traffic, which had a big mall, and everything was nearby. I did not even know what to think of the cold. I make shirts cotton with long sleeves with me. But when winter came, I needed to take a coat. During the winter, the sun was setting to 16 hours and it was not until about 9. There were days when the temperature is going below zero and I had about 6 layers of clothes just to keep warm. Even dry your hair before. I had to do each morning after taking a shower because if not, my hair FREEZE. The only thing I liked most about the cold and snow has been able to go skiing. People I was so happy for me and tell me all his stories of snow (as I do not have in the Philippines). I've never skied in my life either, so I'm happy and proud to learn.

Put me in a most welcome in the world. They treated me like their own and are like family to another part of the real world. I had a foster parent, an adoptive parent, sibling and a sister. Ben would always be fresh and give me hugs and kisses. I loved every minute of it because never before has a little brother. It was fun to watch Katie grow since it began to be a teenager and always told stories in the bathroom we share. With emails, it was determined that I would call Mom and Dad, because I never used to call older people by their first names. I felt very loved. Had ensured that tuna in the pantry (it was my favorite), I embraced when he had to be embraced, I stay up late at night with my friends, and even let me party in the basement.

I went to a public high school mixed American and has been an adjustment for a private Catholic school girls soon. The school was new, everyone was different and was so different. I've never met for many types of people in one place. I was scared during the first day of school. I do not know anybody, I'm lost since the school was great, and I do not think people knew speak English my teachers always say, Elaine And here is an exchange student. But soon I began to feel comfortable. Funny how people has always had a good surprise at the way I've been speaking English. They're like, Wow, you even speak English better than me. I enjoyed answering questions People Like, so what you do in winter? o Where is Peru? Is not South America somewhere? o What is to have a coconut tree outside your home that you always coconut? I had the opportunity to take Spanish courses for fun, photography and art when I met people with similar interests me and I have to go hiking. My favorite go to Chicago to see my favorite painting of Van Gogh's Starry Night. I was an honorary member of the International Club and there were even given Once a conference on the Philippines for the week of the world school of consciousness and someone asked me to say something else in the Philippines. So I said, Magandang Umaga, the ko ay ang dredging as Elaine. They thought it was so good and people started clapping and giving me a standing ovation standing. Just to say my name in Tagalog!

I made many friends and met many people. I joined a youth group from church volunteered for a group of adolescents with cognitive impairment, an indoor soccer team during the winter and the girls team during the spring road. Friends took me to the movies, hockey games, restaurants, tours, shows and rock concerts. Someone has even taken to see the Incubus concert! I have to do my first joke of America, which was written in children's car with lipstick. Everyone was warm, open, and do not hesitate to give hugs. I would say that I even missed my family and friends back home, I never had friends nostalgia because yes it was good. They were all always there for me and helped me with all the adjustments that had to do, like school, do tricks, going out, shopping, dancing, learning slang, everything. Always fun times I remember everything I had with them.

One of the things I had to get used to and then enjoyed the way people saw of my difference. The girls said how lucky I was to have a tan all year and wonder if you went to tanning salons! I have not even heard of tanning salons I'm here! Some guys ask me how I have my hair me is so dark. I was shy and surprised by how some guys were. Unlike here, your little girls are not cut. It's more relaxed. Finally, while I got used to it. I realized that children around the world are the same. Now I am happy really be going out with all those beautiful children, receive calls, and exit. Kiss someone of the opposite sex was not even a big deal and something I liked. Go to open their eyes more similarities and differences in American culture. It was one of the times was so proud to be filipino. I different and exotic.

Each month, I met to other exchange students in our region. I made friends with people from Germany, Brazil, Holland, etc., England, Hungary, it was fun when we were together because we have seen how language, skin color or height does not matter. All were equal. We even had to force away because we were all in the same The exchange students talk about the differences at home, school and country. I learned so much about other cultures, and even had to share mine. Remember that cooking the dressing for a Christmas party. I stressed that on this, but everyone loved it!

Being away for 10 months and lives alone in a completely different world taught me a lot. I grew up and my perspective has changed in ways you never imagined. Now I can say I am independent, enjoy my family and my friends more open to new ideas, assertive, and confident in myself. I have my own adventure turned out everything is possible and I can not do anything. It was the best moment of my life and I will always remember as the option to go out and discover what the world has in store for me has changed my life and something I will always remember.

By Elaine Abonal
Special Items: Seventeen magazine, Philippines

About the Author

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