Exchange is about learning. Its not as simple as learning whatever is

taught in school though. Its about learning how to listen, how to speak,

how to think. Learning who you are, who your friends are, the type of people

you want as friends. Learning how to trust your innermost feelings, and how

to find those feelings in the first place. Its about learning whats really

important to you, and learning what you dont really give a damn about.

 

Exchange is about how to tolerate, how to accept, how to like and how to

love.

Learning how to give as well as you receive, and how to trust that

everything will even itself out on its own.

 

Its about learning that your mom and dad do have the right answers

sometimes, and that your kid little sister isnt such a dumb little kid

anymore.

 

Exchange is about learning that sometimes a kiss isnt just a kiss,

sometimes it means more, sometimes it means less.

 

Learning how to achieve, how to succeed and how to accomplish. Its about

learning how not to come in first place and still be proud and about coming

in last and learning how to admit that you couldve been better.

 

Exchange is about learning that large parties dont necessarily mean a good

time. Learning that loneliness doesnt go away in a crowd, and sometimes it

is ok to be by yourself on a Friday or Saturday night.

 

Its about learning that your lunch time crowd does not constitute your

popularity and that popularity is all a matter of perspective. Its about

learning that boredom is simply laziness of the mind, and watching 3 hours

of TV everynight is not quality relaxation time.

 

Exchange is about learning how to pack a bag and how to pack a room full of

way too much stuff.

 

Its about learning that people probably like you a whole lot more than

theyll ever tell you, and that it is your responsibility to make sure your

friends know how much you appreciate them and your family how much you love them.

 

Its about learning how to miss people enough to not stick them in the past,

and how to not miss them so much that keeps you from moving into the future.

Learning how to motivate yourself and how to motivate others.

 

Its about learning how to swear in all the different languages from all the

other exchange students and knowing that the friends you make on exchange will be a part of you forever.