David K.-1996
In 1994, my parents and I went to visit my brother who had spent almost 1 year in Homer, NY. This became the starting point of my own journey as an exchange student. My brother told me all about the fun he had had during the year and all the sports he had played. I just had to go back to the place where you have organized soccer practices every day of the week.
I boarded the plane to US August 1995 and landed in Sweden July 1996. During these 11 months I had experienced so many things and enjoyed great hospitality from my American family, who had taken care of me as their own son. I had of course improved my English but also learned that there are large cultural differences even between countries in the so called Western World and, perhaps best of all, had the opportunity to meet and spend time with great people I would never had met otherwise.
It is impossible to say where I would be in life if I had not decided to go abroad for one year but with me I carry dear memories and would definitely do it again if I were to decide today. It is of course hard to leave family and friends going abroad at the age of 16 but I will make sure that my son and daughter gets/takes the same opportunity if possible.
-David
I boarded the plane to US August 1995 and landed in Sweden July 1996. During these 11 months I had experienced so many things and enjoyed great hospitality from my American family, who had taken care of me as their own son. I had of course improved my English but also learned that there are large cultural differences even between countries in the so called Western World and, perhaps best of all, had the opportunity to meet and spend time with great people I would never had met otherwise.
It is impossible to say where I would be in life if I had not decided to go abroad for one year but with me I carry dear memories and would definitely do it again if I were to decide today. It is of course hard to leave family and friends going abroad at the age of 16 but I will make sure that my son and daughter gets/takes the same opportunity if possible.
-David