Living Life the American Way

Chantelle, Malaysia

As an exchange student living in America (which is about 9,500 miles away from home) my whole stay here have been a journey of self-discovery. I have been through a lot of ups and downs and life is just like a roller coaster with a lot of unexpected twists and turns, but I am still holding strong. In fact all these obstacles have made me a tougher person, someone I never thought I could be.

Having spent the entire of my 17 years in a small town named Kuantan, I was really looking forward to taking the next flight out of my hometown. I was all ready to embark on a 6-month long adventure as an “American” high school student, or at least I thought I was. With a week to go before I make my way to the United States, I was filled with excitement and eagerness. I was as happy as a child with the possession of a popsicle in her hands, and no words could express how I felt.

But my feelings changed the day before I was about to board the plane. Flashbacks of the happy times I shared together with my family flooded my mind like a wave of tsunami, not to forget the look on my dear grandpa’s face when we hugged goodbye. Seeing him tear up made my eyes water, I tried really hard to hide my emotions but the lump in my voice gave it away. For a moment, I hesitated, wondering if I actually made the right decision but making the choice itself to not quit has made me believe that I could achieve much more.

Ever since I was 13 years old I have desired in my heart to come to the United States. Stepping my feet on the U.S. soil was like a dream come true; it all felt so surreal as I settled into my new home, along with my new family members who never ceased to help me with anything I needed to make me feel welcome. I learnt to be more independent, occasionally with the guidance of those who know better.

Being here is like a process of ongoing learning. Punctuality has never been my expertise, so most of the time you would expect to see me slacking around on the job taking my own sweet time but I found out that it is not the way things work here. Time is golden, and everything has to be within the snap of two fingers so I indirectly picked up the pace and proven the proverb “time waits for no man” to be completely true.

During the period I am here, I realize my role as a young ambassador for my country. I have accumulated knowledge from Americans as much knowledge as they have gained from me, sharing mutual understanding between us, thus bridging the gap that holds us apart. America has taught me to view the world from a different angle. Apart from that, I have been implying the motto “quick to observe, slow to judgment” in daily life because I am sure the last thing everyone wants is a judgmental society.

I am very fortunate to have been chosen to represent my country. I may not be the best, but I always try and give my best. Being an exchange student is probably the most adventurous thing I have ever done in my life, and I do not regret the decision made to come here. Surely, it was deliberated a hundred times in my head but if I were given the chance to turn back the hands of time, I would not have decided any differently. This experience is priceless, and all the memories will forever be engraved in my mind.