(Ex)change

By Maja from Serbia on A-SMYLE Scholarship

Since August last year, I tried, saw, and experienced things that I probably never would have if I did not apply for the A-SMYLE program. All in all this means I had about eight months, and will have two more, of constant fun. I was like a sponge, absorbing every little thing around me.

But coming to a different country, and leaving security of the home behind, wasn’t the easiest thing to do. I believe that as all other exchange students out there I came to United States as a one person, and will leave as completely different one. All the compromises I needed to make, all the questions I answered, and all the things I experienced, made me change. I needed to grow up and really become someone who is worth representing my country.

I wanted to be an exchange student from the time I was ten or eleven. The fact that people grew up in totally different cultures, but still are quite the same, was always utterly interesting to me. Coming to United States just proved me that even if we our lives are sometimes incomparably different, people still can overcome distinctions and help each other. We can, no matter what, be friends. As we take, we give in return, and that is basically what exchange is all about.

As a fifteen-year-old girl I landed in USA full of confidence, and thinking that after all the orientations I had attended, I was completely ready for anything that could come up. But, the truth is no matter how much orientation helps, nothing can truly prepare you for the real life. For the fact that there is no one who will step up for you, and that you are the leader now. You are ambassador of your country, and no matter how small you are, you can actually affect on things and change them. Being in that position is temping, but it’s also brings enormous responsibility.

Through the year I learned how to overcome small differences that can impair relationships between people. United States and Serbia are dissimilar countries, but that does not mean that I could not find middle ground with people here. As I learned a lot from them, I hoped they learned at least as half much from me.

Actually living in States is fairly different that listening about life here from other people, or through media. Structure of society and the way government works made me think about the changes I could make when I get back home in order for people to have better future there. I liked the American kind of stability and certainty people have here, and I would really like to bottle some up and take it to Serbia. My country had a bloody history, and little bit of American hope would help to triumph over these last few problems we have. I also realized that United States is not as perfect as it seems, and that society has problems like everybody else. But, they always overcome the trouble.

Finally, besides all material stuff and souvenirs that are barely fitting in my suitcase, I’m taking memories with me. Moments and feelings that will always stick by no matter what. Experiences that will help me create better future for coming generations. Unfortunately, the only things I cannot pack are people, especially my host family. Without them I wouldn’t neither come across nor understand so many things I now know.

A-SMYLE has changed me and I hope I will change the world one day.