Alisha went on a Year Exchange from Melbourne, Australia to Rome, Italy and shares with us her reflection on what it meant to become and be an exchange student.
Exchange students. The term is known throughout the world but many lack the knowledge of the true meaning. Being an exchange student means being brave, independent, confident and open-minded. Being an exchange student means travelling to foreign countries, willing to jump in the deep end, having faith in your ability to persists.
Bravery:
Being an exchange student means being brave in every sense of the word. Not only is it brave to go to another country by yourself without any support but putting yourself out there. Travelling alone can be frightening but ever so character building but is not the bravest thing you will have to do. You will have to talk to new people in new languages that you probably won’t understand to begin with. You will have to constantly risk messing up the language to learn. But the reward is ever so sweet. When everything finally clicks and you finally understand what everyone is saying. When you start being able to speak with your friends in their language, you will feel a sense of achievement like no other.
Independent:
The support base you will have during your exchange is like no other, but you will gain independence. There will be a time where you will have to travel by yourself, small or big. You will learn more about yourself and about life without constant reliance on others. Along with this, you will be the only one who truly knows what you are going through, and with that comes a sense of overwhelming comfort. Without your familiarities, you will have to go out of your comfort zone and do things by yourself.
Confidence:
The self-confidence going away from your home takes is extraordinary. The ability to explore new things and the trust in yourself that everything will work is a one-of-a-kind gift. The resilience and confidence it takes to put yourself out in a new world is something that will grow within you. Even in little everyday tasks, confidence is a vital skill. When you go out and try to order something by yourself for the first time it is nerve racking but is part of the experience.
Open-minded:
New countries mean new traditions. New traditions mean new opportunities. To be an exchange student you must be open-minded. There will be some foods that you have never heard of before, but it’s important to try. There will be days when your host family take you on a new adventure that is something unique to their country’s tradition. As an exchange student, you are signing up to embrace their traditions at least once and give everything a go. Even if you don’t like it, it is important that you give everything a crack. With your host family and friends, you must trust that you can tell them when something isn’t your style.
Being an exchange student is one of the greatest gifts you will get. The bonding with other exchange students and with newfound friends is relationships that will last for life. It has its challenges and its trials, but the outcome will be amazing and soul filling. The whole time is a big rollercoaster of emotions, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.
Take this step now, before it is too late! First step here!
