So True!

I am EXCHANGE STUDENT!
.-How are you gonna know what a dream is...if you've never completed one.
.-How are you gonna know what an adventure is...if you never undertook one.
... .-How are you gonna know what anguish is...if you never told your family and friends "see you soon" with your eyes full of tears.
.-How are you gonna know what desperation is...if you never arrived in a place, alone, withou...t understanding anything the others were saying
.-How are you gonna know what it means to miss someone...if you've never been away from home
.-How are you gonna know what diversity is...if you've never shared under the same roof with people from all over the world
.-How are you gonna know what tolerance is...if you've never had to get used to something different, even if you don't like it.
.-How are you gonna know what independence is...if you've never had to make decisions for yourself.
.-How are you gonna know what it means to grow...if you never quit being a child to start in a new direction.
.-How are you gonna know what disability is...if you've never had to urge to hug someone, but the computer screen got in your way
.-How are you gonna know what distance is...if you've never looked at a map and said "Wow, I'm far"
.-How are you gonna know what a language is...if youve never had to learn one to make friends
.-How are you gonna know what patriotism is...if you've never shouted "I love my country" holding a flag in the hand.
.-How are you gonna know what a party is...if you've never traveled hours to go to one
.-How are you gonna know what true reality is...if you've never had the opportunity to see many different ones so you can create your own.
.-How are you gonna know what an opportunity is...if you've never taken advantage of one
.-How are you gonna know what pride is...if you never felt it for yourself when you realize what you've accomplished.
.-How are you gonna know what it means to seize the moment...if you've never seen how time passed through your hands with great strides
.-How are you gonna know what a friend is...if the circumstances never taught you which ones are real
.-How are you gonna know what a family is...if you've never had one that supported you unconditionally
.-How are you gonna know what your boundaries are...if you've never passed them to see what lies beyond.
.-How are you gonna know what money is...if you never had to manage it to get along.
.-How are you gonna know what imagination is...if you've never thought about the moment you get back home
.-How are you gonna know what the world is...if you never were an EXCHANGE STUDENT

And lastly, (from the group "You Know You Are A Rotary Youth Exchange Student When...) "You know that being an exchange student is taking years off of your life, but you're living more in one year than many live in ten."

 If this was to be anymore true I think it would hurt. Everything that is said is so true! When I read the part of when you say, "I'll see you soon." to your friends and family it almost brought tears to my eyes because it is so true. During my last day in America as I said goodbye to my mother with the tears in her eyes I looked back and said, "I'll see you soon. Love you mom!" To imagine the pain this must be is hard. I mean, I know what it is like from my stand point, but for a mother to have to let her son go for a year? I think that would be the hardest. But my mom is a fighter and she is kicking butt at this year thing! I love her and I will see her soon. Just like I promised! And I refuse to break that promise! It will be soon! :) 

And for all of you who don't know what it is like and you are reading this (I would first like to thank you for reading this, but...) you don't even know. It is almost impossible to even try to imagine. Honestly I wouldn't even try. To try to imagine life for an exchange student is trying to predict when the world will end, it is nearly impossible if not impossible. It takes a certain breed of people to become an exchange student. It takes an even better breed to stay the whole year and have a successful exchange! :) I love it here and mom, I WILL see you soon :)!

Thanks for reading,

Austin