We have entered January which means many changes for me. Firstly, we are now in 2018! After seeing what 2017 has brought me I can't begin to imagine the experiences will be a part of 2018. Secondly, I turned 17 years old and the reality of that is a scary thing. Being one year from legal adulthood really makes me want to pull the brake switch. Thirdly, I am roughly half way through my exchange.
I arrived here in Germany just five months ago, but I've become so adjusted to life here that I sometimes trick myself into thinking I've lived here my whole life. Standing at the tipping point of the year gives me a hypothetical viewpoint as to what I've done so far and what's to come. Looking backwards I see my personal growth and development. I've learned how to compromise, follow the rules I might not agree with, and how to make my own thoughts and wishes clear through discussion. Additionally, the lack of preconceptions I had when signing up has done me well. I had no clue what to expect, which has allowed me to take every day step-by-step without comparing it to some ideal I dreamed up in the States. In this situation I see it fit to use my very pessimistic saying "Have no expectations and you'll never be disappointed." Being a foreigner living in a country I don't call my own has not really changed my mindset, because I don't particularly see myself as foreign. There hasn't been much discrimination between myself and my German peers which leads me to believe that I am not really something exotic here. There was never a spotlight shined on me for being an exchange student simply because it is such a common occurrence in Europe. As far as carrying over an image of America goes, I'd say I've been relatively successful in doing so. My definition of success here is that I haven't given a bad one. When topics regarding America are brought, I am a bit more Swiss in that I remain very neutral and don't give my personal thoughts on politics or world issues. To measure my ability in German I've been asking people if they consider me to be fluent and I've received a resounding "yes." It is a great confidence booster to know that cramming vocabulary and repeating sentences mid-conversation to make sure I have correct grammar has improved my language skills. Additionally, as of late, my friend-making skills have seen improvement as well.
With all that in mind, I am very interested to use this knowledge to make the best of my next fiveish months. Now that I've become settled and proficient in the language I plan on having a much more involved lifestyle. I want to join a paddling club to meet more people and enjoy the sports I love, I'll be looking at opportunities for community service, getting into contact with my Bundestagsabgeordneter which is a very long title for the American equivalent of a congressman to discuss my program and develop American-German relations on a more professional level, and the largest plan of these all is that I will be changing families. I am very excited to be moving this Friday to Eitorf, a town east of Bonn. I am not in relocating due to problems with my previous family; rather, their own son is coming back from his exchange with brings up the problem of space. I knew that a switch would have to happen since September, but only recently I found out where to.
The first half has given me the understanding and experience I need to make sure I drive this all the way home as smoothly as possible and get everything I can out of my exchange. I am looking forward now at the good things to come.
I arrived here in Germany just five months ago, but I've become so adjusted to life here that I sometimes trick myself into thinking I've lived here my whole life. Standing at the tipping point of the year gives me a hypothetical viewpoint as to what I've done so far and what's to come. Looking backwards I see my personal growth and development. I've learned how to compromise, follow the rules I might not agree with, and how to make my own thoughts and wishes clear through discussion. Additionally, the lack of preconceptions I had when signing up has done me well. I had no clue what to expect, which has allowed me to take every day step-by-step without comparing it to some ideal I dreamed up in the States. In this situation I see it fit to use my very pessimistic saying "Have no expectations and you'll never be disappointed." Being a foreigner living in a country I don't call my own has not really changed my mindset, because I don't particularly see myself as foreign. There hasn't been much discrimination between myself and my German peers which leads me to believe that I am not really something exotic here. There was never a spotlight shined on me for being an exchange student simply because it is such a common occurrence in Europe. As far as carrying over an image of America goes, I'd say I've been relatively successful in doing so. My definition of success here is that I haven't given a bad one. When topics regarding America are brought, I am a bit more Swiss in that I remain very neutral and don't give my personal thoughts on politics or world issues. To measure my ability in German I've been asking people if they consider me to be fluent and I've received a resounding "yes." It is a great confidence booster to know that cramming vocabulary and repeating sentences mid-conversation to make sure I have correct grammar has improved my language skills. Additionally, as of late, my friend-making skills have seen improvement as well.
With all that in mind, I am very interested to use this knowledge to make the best of my next fiveish months. Now that I've become settled and proficient in the language I plan on having a much more involved lifestyle. I want to join a paddling club to meet more people and enjoy the sports I love, I'll be looking at opportunities for community service, getting into contact with my Bundestagsabgeordneter which is a very long title for the American equivalent of a congressman to discuss my program and develop American-German relations on a more professional level, and the largest plan of these all is that I will be changing families. I am very excited to be moving this Friday to Eitorf, a town east of Bonn. I am not in relocating due to problems with my previous family; rather, their own son is coming back from his exchange with brings up the problem of space. I knew that a switch would have to happen since September, but only recently I found out where to.
The first half has given me the understanding and experience I need to make sure I drive this all the way home as smoothly as possible and get everything I can out of my exchange. I am looking forward now at the good things to come.
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