March 10...
The day is finally here! I still remember saying goodbye to my parents and counting down the days I would get to see their familiar faces once again.. and low and behold... IT IS HERE!
When I look back at the naive young American, ready to take off and see the world way back in August, I cant help but feel a sense of accomplishment. I know that my exchange is not over yet, but I do feel like I have come a long way. Most people would be anxious to see how their family would react to how they look after months of not seeing eachother; any new tattoos, peircings, different fashion style, gained or lost wait, new hairdo, but to my own surprise, I am not looking forward to any of that. I am actually lloking forward to the "growing up" and "maturing" part. I cannot put into words how much I have learned about myself and the wolrd as a whole this past year. I seriously feel as if I have been living in a bubble my entire life and all of a sudden, this exchange has been that needle that just popped it and allowed for reality to hit me.
I cant say that I am dissapointed nor elated by this action because it was inevitable and well in lack of a better word, life.
At times I was shocked to find out some things or be told or called other things, but for the most part I welcomed any new opinion or way of life into my own. I obviously thought immenseley about what I should incorporate into my life and about what I should not, but for the most part gave me the result of me being who I am to this day, and I would be lying if I said I was not content.
Cultures, Races, Ethnicities, Traveling, Family, Values, Religion, School, Learning, History, and above all Perspective have paved way to what I like to call "My new way of life". I am more than grateful to have had such a wonderful experience and met some of the most amazing and unique people this world has to offer. From those who have but not one cent in their pockets, to those who make millions in a month´s worth of time, to those who have traveled and experienced it all, I can honestly say I have gained as much from these unique people as I have from my family and friends back at home my entire life.
I guess being in a different country where you are kind of forced into listening and learning because you actually have the excuse that you did not grow up there and therefore are somewhat ignorant to everything and everyone, gives you the opportunity to sit back and reexamine not only your entire life but also the world as a whole. you are given an opportunity to set your goals straight and decide on who you want to be and what you really want in life.
So I guess what I am saying is that I am excited to share my experiences and show my family how far I have come along within these past 8 months, to show them that the seperation, the events that went unattended, the long distance calls and skype dates, were all worth the finish.
But do not worry! I have much more left to learn and experience on this exchange and life in general! I am just making a pitstop and looking back on how far I have come :)
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