Exchange Semester 2023 USA
Decision
When I was about 13 years old, youtube recommended me a video of a girl, talking about her exchange semester. She seemed incredible happy for experiencing such a cool time and made me crave that too. Within the next few weeks I've seen more and more videos of teens sharing their memories - mostly positive. Surprisingly one day, my math teacher was talking about a carrier event that would take place in our school the very next weekend. My dad and I went there and soon found out about Education First (short EF), an organization that specializes in exchange years and language trips. We gave them our contact details and almost forgot about it. But then, 2 years later they CALLED us - "Is Markus still interested in an exchange semester?" - Hell yeah I was!
Preperations
Around one year before going abroad, the preperations started. There was a crazy amount of documents and forms I had to fill out. The day I'd cross the ocean and explore a new continent, at least that's what it felt like, was coming closer and closer. Until one day, 'bout eight exhausting month later, I sat at home, looking at my packed up suitcase, being absolutely ready for the best time of my life.
The next day, I got a message from my hostdad Ben 'Hope you got some sleep' - not at all HAHA - no sleep for me.
Journey
Hostfamily
My host family wasn't particularly big. As EF said, they come in 'all shapes and sizes'. But that doesn't change the fact, that I had the best semester one could wish for. Ben and Fred, my hostbrother from Denmark who's exchange year I joined in the second semester where the best host family I could have imagined. We had a great time and built so many memories together.
15h Car Trip to Texas
School Life
Spring Vacation Miami
One day, Ben went to India for 3 weeks, he had to go there because of work related reasons. So his son Skyler, who was already in his twenties came to play baby sitter. Skyler is an ethuasiastic person