Better late then never right? I think the last few months I've been living in denial that my exchange year is actually over. I still forget that I'm back in the states, and see something and think "oh! Emmi will love that!" and think about buying it for her, but then remember she's in Germany and I'm back in America. Or I wake up from a dream and forget I'm now in college in North Carolina instead of Germany. Anyways, I went into my exchange year with a lot of mixed emotions. I was nervous to live with another family, and especially go to German high school. I was also really anxious about having a little sister since kids aren't my favorites. I remember asking my mom is 3 year olds could talk (I have no concept of kids and when they mature). Pretty quickly, I found out Emmi could talk, she had many opinions and she was just like a small person. I also ended up becoming really close to her, and I'm so happy I did. Germany changed me almost as much as Saint James did. Saint James solidified who I was, my morals, and perspectives but then Germany completely changed the perspectives and made me mature a lot. I now like kids (most of them), I am much more independent, and self reliant and I also know how to navigate a city and public transportation. I still don't like buses, trams and trains, but I'm much more comfortable and able to get around on my own. I also became part of a new family, which for me, was the biggest reward from my experience. I never thought going into my exchange year I would become as close as I did with my host family. I knew we would have a good relationship (or I hoped and was determined to do my best), but I didn't imagine they would truly become another part of my family to me. I refer to Emmi as my little sister, and confuse everyone until I say she's actually my host sister, but I consider her as my real sister. Bettina and Joe (my host parents) were a different type of parents. My real parents will always be my mom and dad, but Bettina and Joe became two important role models to me, and helped me immensely throughout my year. I also made two best friends for life, Jill and Carly. It took until October (almost exactly a year ago) for Jill and I to become friends, where Carly immediately became my friend and made high school much better.
Now I'm a freshman in college, and my year in Germany made the decision for my degree. I am an International Business major, with a German minor, and will go to university in Reutlingen, Germany for my junior and senior year. I will get a dual degree in International Business from Elon and the German one.
My exchange year was easily the best experience of my life, and I've had a lot of great ones from being a page in the House of Delegates in Richmond when I was 13, to going to boarding school. My experience in Germany taught me about another culture, lifestyle and language while becoming a part of another family, and making great friends for life, both German and other exchange students. Hopefully, I'll return this summer and after I graduate, maybe even live in Bonn.
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