Dear Exchange,

You’re a blessing

You’re a disaster

I feel lost

Yet, I feel like I’ve just been found

People said I couldn’t

People said I shouldn’t

Yet, here I am

16 years old

A half world away from the safety of home

A whole year of my life

Spent making a new life

Making new friends

Learning a new language

Missing Thanksgiving and Christmas with my family back home

Sometimes it’s hard

It’s never easy

But even though there are hardships

I wouldn’t trade you for anything