9/20/13
Happy 1 Month Anniversary to Me and Poland!
Every counselor, inbound student, or past exchange student has told me that the first month of exchange is the absolute hardest. It is the month of adjusting, learning, adapting, and emotions. This is the time where you test yourself for the strength deep down in your body to pursue the next 9 months of the exchange. The hard times are not over and won’t stop until years after your exchange. I have pushed through the heartache when my boyfriend broke up with me, the homesickness when I severely missed my family, and emotions when the kids from school were too scared to talk to me but gladly talked to the other exchange student sitting right next to me. In this past month I have eradicated some stereotypes about America including always eating at fast food places; introduced American culture to other exchange students like Miss America; and grown closer connections to the other American exchange students instead of focusing on the friendships back in New Jersey. There have been many things out of my control such as being available at certain time for the people in New Jersey, but I am in control of my happiness in Poland.
From this month forward I declare a promise to myself:
I will hereby not think about activities occurring in New Jersey and say, “I wish
I was here.” I will try everything new here, eat new things, and travel to new places.
I will also focus on the people around me and make great connections with them. I, Stephanie Raquel Kneble, will be super happy during my exchange and be grateful towards everyone and everything even after I return.
Being a student ambassador for the USA is a huge responsibility and I will represent my country with great pride. This is only the beginning of the thousands of things I will accomplish over the next 9 months.
Stephanie Raquel
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