Why an exchange year?

South Africa this summer

Hi everyone,
In this post I want to tell you some of the reasons why I chose to be an exchange student. It's a big decision because I'm leaving my family, friends and country for 10 months, to live in a new place with people I don't know yet. I'll have to start over again and make new friends. But I think the advantages are bigger than the disadvantages. This are some reasons I'm going to do an exchange year:

• Getting out of my comfort zone. I'd like to look back in a few years and not be sorry about the chances I didn't take and the things I didn't do, but to be proud of myself and to look back on great experiences!
• Improving my English and speaking it fluently. I think that a big moment for many exchange students is the point when they start dreaming in English, and I'd love to do that too :) It will also be useful for my future life and job.
• Experiencing the American culture. Halloween, prom and homecoming, thanksgiving... Do I need to say more?
• Going to a real high school. I'm one of those girls who sees movies about American high schools and wonders if it's like that in real life too. And I would love to experience the school spirit.
• Meeting new people and making new friends. I hope I'll get a great host family and meet people from all over the world!
• Growing as a person and knowing what I want. I really don't know what I want to do after I finish high school. There are so many things that seem nice to me, but not so nice that I want to make my profession of it. I think that I'll learn a lot about myself and what I want during my exchange year!

Another reason is that I had very good experiences with exchanges. My school calls itself a 'World School' so they are really international orientated. Two years ago, I went to Normandy, France for 5 days with an exchange. Last year I went to Madrid, Spain for a week and just a few months ago I went to Beijing, China! I think it's great that my school offers the opportunity to participate in exchanges because I really liked them and learned a lot from them. It really helped me to make the decision to live in the USA for a year!

If you're an exchange student too: what are your reasons to go abroad?