In every good book, there is an appendix following the last chapter. This one here will sum up our Whuffle's experiences which she gained during her exchange year.
A
couple of weeks ago, Magi's time in the US ended and so did her weekly reports from the land of the free. Obviously, she had great times experiencing all the different things she wrote about and thereby gave us the opportunity to have a laugh or at least learn a little bit about the foreign culture she was living in. On June 26, she published her last chapter as a foreign exchange student and went of to travel a little with her parents. Now, about a month after her return to good old Europe, I talked to her in order to sum up her time, her thoughts and her experiences and this is what she told me.
When did you start planning your year? How did you come up with the idea anyways? And could you tell the readers what it needs to become an exchange student in the US? I actually never planned on becoming an exchange student, not like you plan on becoming a fire fighter when you are grown up. Once in school, I saw a flyer telling me straight about the idea to see a different country for ten months. Sure, I was interested as were a few other kids. After I got a magazine of EF (the name of my future exchange organization) my parents and I talked about the idea, my plans, their plans and if I would really like to go. I wasn't sure in the beginning and right before I started my trip I was a total psycho! I was freaking out a lot and got scared more and more. It got better when I arrived in the States though.To become an exchange student you simply need good grades and money. If you got amazing grades and no money you still can go, but therefore you need to get a scholarship.
On the road again.
Would you ever have traded in your host family or the place you had to stay at? Sure, a lot of times because I stayed in a very small, very white community with really nothing to do. If you wanted to go somewhere you HAD TO use a car. There was no way to get to the movies by bus or taxi or bike. It's sad, isn't it?
What places or famous sights did you see while being in the US? Oh, I saw great places! I went to see California, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Hollywood boulevard, Chinatown and Santa Barbara. I also got to visit Chicago twice during my stay. I went to Cincinnati, Lake Michigan and Boston.
Skyscrapers right next to historical buildings in Boston, MA.
The exchange rate of the dollar is currently going through the roof (or falling through the floor depending on the perspective). Did you buy anything just because of the weak dollar? What didn't I buy! I spent so much money on clothing and accessories, I bought two mobile phones (I lost the first one but still own the second one), I bought some PC games and a bunch of DVDs. *lol* I never owned so many DVDs ever before! And neither cloths!It was great to be there this year because of the weak dollar - we Europeans had really good times!
Everything is bigger, better or just plain different in the US. Have you experienced a so-called culture shock? Kinda - Americans are actually often fat. It's not just a rumor. They are fat. But at the same time they are such nice folks... Not very interested in some things, but hey, who's interested in everything? And they don't separate their trash. Bikes are out, you walk or drive a car and anything else is just not cool.
How did you cope with the problem of homesickness? Sometimes really bad, but it makes you stronger even if you don't care if you get as strong as Hercules when you miss your mommy. And you grow at the outside AND inside.
This is practically worth nothing or not much at least.
Would you still do it again? Well, another exchange high school seems impossible, how about becoming an au-pair or studying abroad? Yes, I would like to go over there again; however, not to Ohio, maybe not even to the US. I want to see the world. On the other hand, I would not like to go over there, no matter where, right now or even in this year. It's weird to describe but currently I don't want to be anywhere else but home.
Do you feel Americanized or did you Germanize the Americans? They don't let you Germanize them! They are extremely proud to be Americans, all of them. They like to listen to stories about the world "out there". But often they don't take these stories too seriously. Do I feel Americanized? A little probably - I'm now afraid of germs and love to greet every single person I meet on the streets. But I'm also more German now than I was ever before. I believe we (i.e. Germans) live in a great country. Of course we do have our problems, we do have a bad history; however, that's not all and everything. We have culture, we got poetry, we have great food and the best automobiles in the world! Also other peoples think so; therefore, this is not only showing-off. We are smart and we are good and quick workers. I don't mean to say that we were the best in everything, nobody and no country is just fabulous. However, why can't we sing our national hymn more often, why not show more pride? Just a little, a tickle more? I did my first step and presented Germans when I traveled in the West. And now I also did my first step here- I bought a German flag. And it's decorating my room just fine.
Proud to be an American - and showing it.
Boy, what a motivating and enthusiastic speech, ever thought about becoming a politician? Well, could you still try to sum up your year in one sentence or two? Tears will try, smiles will fade but memories last forever. That was our motto of this year's seniors (twelve graders).
Although this would already fit perfectly as an ending, do you have anything you still want to tell our dear readers? Any famous last words? I never find the perfect last words I always wanted to say. But if I ever get a microphone in front of millions of people I will say:GRÜTZWURST!
Magi is 17 years old and lived in Bradford in the US state of Ohio since summer last year (yes, this high school exchange student thing). On WOOLING.NET she told you about the daily routine over there. Have a look at what she published.
Fotos: Flickr - bitzcelt, Daniel Gasienica, brentdanley, ashley.adcox, brian.glanz
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