This is a picture of me with my first and second host dads wearing KC Chiefs jerseys that I gave them.
As an exchange student with one of the greatest organizations in the world, Rotary, students get the chance to live with different families while on their exchange. I recently changed families and the experience is something that I will never forget. When I first arrived in Liege,Belgium I was just a wide eyed American girl looking for an adventure. I didn't speak a word of french, and I really had no idea what my year living abroad had in store for me. I moved in with a family who embraced my ignorance in the language and they treated me as a member of their family. My first four and a half months were filled with lots of learning and growing. I immediately new that my first host family was loving, fun, and sometimes a little crazy; but, it made me love them even more. I switched into my second family just after New Years. I never imagined it would be so emotional. I admit that when I moved to my new family I was a little apprehensive because I had such an incredible first family; however, I never thought I would have a second family who was just as great. My new host family has three kids, and for the first time in my life I have both a little sister and a brother. Growing up as the youngest of three girls, I am slowly learning what its like to have different kinds of siblings.
I was driving with my second host dad past my old house and I made the comment, in french of course, "Oh look, there is my old house!" Laughing he told me if I loved it there so much he could drop me off. I smiled and said that now I just have a few different houses to call home now. Throughout my first five months here I have learned that most families are pretty similar. Parents fight with their kids, kids complain about doing the dishes, and family love is never-ending. Language barriers may prevent me from understanding everything that goes on in my new house; but, compassion is universal. I know that I am one of the luckiest people in the world. I have changed quite a bit in my first five months here: changed families, changed my hair color, and changed my outlook on the world. I have seen how important it is to learn a new language and have seen how empathetic people can be. Change is a good thing and my exCHANGE year has thus far been the greatest experience of my life.
On a sad note, all the Australians and New Zealanders left this past week. I am going to miss them so much, but I know that the new exchangers who are coming will be great, too.
