Exchange student life

[be-on-exchange]

When you don’t understand culturals jokes of your host country

[be-on-exchange]

When you know that you are going to leave to an other country soon !

[be-on-exchange]

Trying to communicate during the first month

[be-on-exchange]

Hi I am currently an exchange student in the USA and i have been at this school for two days and i am really sad i don't have any friends and at lunch i sit with people i don't really like and they are quiet and even don't talk among themselves (also from what i heard they don't like each other) so I am asking for help is it normal not to have friends at first cause i am really shy and it is really hard for me

Hey no worry :D ! My first days in NZ were terrible, I had nobody and I was very worried like you. But no stress, time will pass and you will met new people in your different class. If you can it’s cool to go to a sport team or something like this, if there is any club you like you should join, so you will people that have at least some interest in common with you :)But it’s normal at the beginning 

[be-on-exchange]

I leave in 13 to Costa Rica for a year and It is hard for me because I am the type of person to over share and my friends aren't as excited for me as I thought and I feel like they aren't going to miss me and it makes me feel kinda of jealous. Is this normal/ how should I deal with this.? Thanks

Everyone go to that stage I think, I had bad time with my friends before leaving, and this is normal you are going to live a new experience and not them, they can also be jealous. But trust me true friends will stay and take news of you !

[be-on-exchange]

Hi so I was wondering if I were to go on exchange my 2017-2018 school year in Japan would I have to make up that year back here (in America) or does it count as like my jr. Yr. of school even though I'm in Japan? Cause i really want to go a full year but when I come back I don't want to graduate with all the kids younger than me ٩(×̯×)۶

Its depend on your school . In France I coudnt , but in some country its possible. But trust be even if your retake your year its not a bad thing !

[be-on-exchange]

hi I was just wondering how long it generally takes for exchange students to fully be able to communicate in their host country's language? I know a lot of people say that by Christmas they're fluent, is this true? I'm from the USA living in ecuador

All depend on your level when you arrive if you can say nothing or you can say a little. For example I hosted a japanese girl that couln’t say anything in French and after 3 months she start to understand and after 5 months she was better than me at some grammar point haha ! You just need to work and take action to learn . Some exchnage doesn’t learn anything because they are lazy .. but if you work and socialise , in like 3/4 months it’s fluent !

[travel-quotes]

It’s a funny thing coming home. Nothing changes. Everything looks the same, feels the same, even smells the same. You realize what’s changed, is you.

Eric Roth, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button screenplay (via travel-quotes)

[be-on-exchange]

If I'm from the US and I choose a country that also speaks English, do you think I wouldn't be getting the full point of exchange? Or will I still learn a lot without learning a new language? (like about myself and becoming more independent and the experience of a new culture)

I know an Americain guy that went to Auckland same year as me. I think that if you know the language it’s more easy the first month and you make friend more easy. I knew some english before going (6 years at school) so it’s wasn’t that difficult. But a lot of people that didn’t knew the language got really good experiences of their exchange. You need to think if you are ready to learn a new language 

[be-on-exchange]

Hi! I'm planning on being an exchange student next fall and I was thinking of going to New Zealand. I'm from the US and was wondering if the culture is really different or not. What are the differences? I want to experience a new culture but still speak English. What other countries have a different culture but speak English?

New-Zealand is so damn pretty first haha . Well I went just once to america but I think it’s quiete the same culture. It’s not the same as French one for sure. There are some difference of course, and also because Nz have two culture, one for colonisation and one from Maori culture and pacific island. Well I think Australie have a culture way more close to America, I guess you can go to South Africa, but also north country like Norway or Sweden they all speak perfectly english ! Hope I help you :D 

[be-on-exchange]

Someone: how's your family?

Me: which one...

1. real family

2. host family

3. Rotary family

[be-on-exchange]

When I hear police sirens getting closer

Me, a homebody who never does anything illegal: They found me.

[be-on-exchange]

PRAY FOR PARIS

I'm French and my hearth was broken by this news... As exchange students we need to continu to share peace values, multicultural values ! We are strong ! We need to stay all together , French or not French . We are all humain and we need to stick together . I love you all ! Share peace my friends please

[be-on-exchange]

english is not their first language: Hello! I'm sorry if my English isn't very good.

english is their first language: hte fuckign

[be-on-exchange]

I really want to go somewhere on an exchange when I'm 16. My parents think I'll be too young but that's when I want to go. My parents are really hard to get through to and they are also way over protective. How can I convince them to let me go?

Show them you are a mature young man/woman/or whatever you want to beYou can also take action , look for information, different program find some blogs that relate exchange . Show them you really want it !!

[be-on-exchange]

Hey, so I'm currently a sophomore in high school and I really, really want to go on exchange for either my junior or senior year. I've been trying to convince my parents for about a year now but they keep saying no because they think that something can happen to me and it's expensive anyways. Do you think that if I did a gap year instead, it would be the same experience? And do you have any tips for convincing my parents that it's not dangerous?

For your parents, first find the association for the exchange then they can talk with your parents about experience, and make them cooler about it. Also plenty of blog exist about exchange !Me and my sister went aboard , my sister in japan and I in new-zealand; and it’s really far far away from France ! But I mean nothing happen, because you have a host family and in most case your association is always there for you !

[be-on-exchange]

Any tips on how to feel at home with your host family? I still feel like I'm burdening them or intruding upon their home lol

I had a great host family, but some people have more trouble. A great tips is to propose to cook diner, do some typical meal from your country , it’s always great for sharing