My Exchange Student Life 2009-2010

By Sunny from South Korea

I've been living here in America, since last July 28th.Before I came here, preparing for the exchange student life, I was not only excited about America, but also worried and afraid. Now I know some of my fears were stupid. From the first day here to the now, so many things have happened and passed. Now I will share my experience.

The first thing is culture differences. My country, South Korea is very different then America in school, fashion, traditions, houses, and especially foods. Actually, the difference of culture was not the hard part for me. I've heard that “there it is not bad, that is just different.” I always keep that sentence in my mind. But if I have to pick up one that was hard for me, then I will say foods. As you know, in Asia, people eat rice all the time. And especially me, I love my country's food style that is healthy and spicy foods. So being far away from my lovely Korean food, I must say, was a little hard for me. But I also like American food too-mash potatoes, pumpkin pie, and beef are my favorites. It wasn’t that hard for me. I’ve heard that many people from other countries, like me have many troubles with culture differences. They don’t understand different custom and life style. I think that trying to understand new things is important to adjust in other culture and overcome hard part.

I have experienced so many things since I got here. All kinds of festivals, visiting historical places in Indiana (my host state), attending black church...I cannot even choose the best...but 'home show' was the best thing. It was in Indianapolis for ten days over Jan~Feb. They have lots of stuff for house. Saunas, garden stuff, machines for dieting and exercise, foods, security alarm system, nail, swim pool, decorations, beds, cooking tools, and etc. My host mom is working for safe guard system. She brought me there every day. Of course I really enjoyed being there 104%. Free candy bags, dolls were everywhere. It was almost like festival. But the best part of being there was meeting new people. Right next to my mom's booth, a Chinese man was selling a tool for painting houses. During the home show, I helped him to sell and we became friends. The other people in the booths were nice too. When they were not busy, we talked and made jokes. During that I met many people and some of them knew about my country and liked it. It was so much fun for me. Not only did I see cool stuff for houses, but also could meet new people then became friends. Before it, it was little hard to start to talk with somebody who I didn’t know. Now I know that there are so many people who are really nice to know. Not as just an exchange student, as like real citizen, I entered the life that people really live. It was new opportunity to know what I didn’t know before.

The reason I became exchange student was for the language. But I've gained more than that. Not only just English and another culture, It was also time for discovering a lot about myself too. I was experiencing various things that are hard to do in my country. Learning new abilities like baking—I never baked in my country because we don’t use ovens. I've been making so many things with the oven. And every time I am a success. I’m good at baking. I also like decorating and I can do those things faster than other people. Also, learning other languages—I’ve met students from other countries and try to learn their languages, like Portuguese, Spanish, German, and especially Slovak. My best friend is from Slovakia, she has been teaching me her language. They say I learn things fast and I don’t forget. The best thing is I like to meet new people, learn new things. New things make me exited. I had been thinking I don’t like new things because they make me feel uncomfortable. Maybe America changed me. But the thing is I’m not afraid of those things anymore.

I do love my real family in my country, and although I thought I would be really happy without my sister and brother—we used to fight every single day. But I miss them so much. I know how mean I was. I am never going to do that again.

Exchange student life in America made me learn about myself, but also has changed me. I don’t fear new things anymore. It makes me understand differences between people and it makes me know how to adjust in new place and how to live with other people. Sometimes there are people that I don’t like, I've learned how to treat them and how to get along together-go to the little common place and try to understand them. And other thing is that it made me have confidence about myself. Before I came here I never wear skirts or shorts or a swim suit. But I saw lots of people wear those things not depending on their looks. They are just being themselves. They don’t care about what other people think and don’t try to hide their looks. They are not ashamed about how they look. Now I wear shorts skirts, go to the swimming pool without caring about anything. And I realized that I’m totally normal. Being confident makes me a lot different makes, it makes me feel fantastic.

I think the best part of U.S. is that I can learn about so many different cultures, not only American's. I am not sure if its right, but many people in my country say America is a culture of immigrants. And I think it’s right—Italian, Spanish, Jewish, Asian, African American. So many cultures. And they got mixed in America, they have both color of America and their own. And they are so interesting. I think that’s America, different but same. I just love to know and meet people. So many new things that I can do, I can learn. That was what made me really excited and makes me love America.

Now I have only two months left until I take the air plane to my home country. I’m a little bit exiting but also sad that I have to leave my other life. I will go to my country with my improved mind, think and attitude. The things about American people, better or worse things than my country, and the other things. I will bring back my wonderful memory to my country and share with my family, friends with lots of American candy chocolate, cool clothes that we don’t have, and many American foods and snacks that we don’t have. Everybody in my home town is waiting for me and exited about the new things from America. And I’m really glad that I could learn about America, and bring things and share with everyone who is really important for me. And it is really a pleasure that I can let people know about my home country, South Korea and share the difference. I might come back after I graduate my high school. Then it will be amazing. My American life as an exchange student will be over. But my relationship with people as friends will be last forever. I am really glad that I could become exchange student and meet these people in my life. If someone asks me if I want to be an exchange student again will say "Yes of course". And if there is someone who is considering about becoming exchange student, I will say "You must". It was a great time to know about myself and also others. It cannot be explained by words.