I had to write a short reflection on my exchange and this experience as a whole for my school, so here it is! And again I will be posting within the next week with LOTS of pics and stories! PROMISE!
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My name is Kari Porter and I am from Kansas, USA. I am 17
years old and have lived in Kansas my entire life. Almost two years ago I
decided to do this exchange, and it was the best decision of my life. I knew
that I wanted to come to Europe but I was unsure at the time which country.
Eventually I chose Italy and I could not be happier for that. I am here on
exchange with Rotary Youth Exchange International. I found out about this
experience through my school in America. I came here to study Italian as well as
experience the culture. I have been living here for 8 months and will return
home in July, so in total I will have spent 10 months away from home. It seemed
impossible to make it this far 8 months ago, but now that I am here at this
point, I cannot believe how fast it went.
I chose
Italy because of the culture, the food, the language, and the opportunities to
experience everything. While here I have seen many other parts of Italy as well
as Europe. I have been to Milan a few times, Rome, Toscana, Venice, Verona,
Cinque Terre, Lago di Garda, and many other small cities throughout Northern
Italy. I have also been to London and Bath, England, as well as Strasbourg,
France. I feel very lucky to have experienced these trips and to have seen so
much of this beautiful country and continent.
The thing I
have liked the most about this experience is meeting new people. I have made so
many lifelong friends from all over the world. I have made Italian friends who
I plan to come back and visit as well. I am not sure how I will be able to
leave in July because I know I will be leaving behind so many great people. My
host families have become like second families to me and I feel extremely close
to them, as I would my own family. My class is school has been amazing and I
will miss them so much. I have also had the chance to meet other exchange
students throughout Italy and they have become my family. Overall, the people I
have met have made this experience what it was. There are so many beautiful
people in the world and the fact that I had the chance to experience all of
this is truly incredible.
My exchange is so difficult to
explain to others because it is difficult to explain to myself. I cannot grasp
how much this whole experience has meant to me. It is such a major part in my
life and it seems impossible that it has almost ended. To think that in 2
months I will be going home is not only terrifying, but impossible to imagine.
These past 8 months have gone by so quickly and I am so scared to go home and
attempt to figure out how to live normally again. This exchange has taught me
to take care of myself and be responsible for my actions. It has taught me that
this world is bigger than just small town Kansas. Most importantly, it has
given me the confidence to be who I want. I don’t need other people telling me
how to live my life, because now I know what I want for myself. This experience
has been incredible and I can truly say it has changed my life. Thank you to
everyone who has made this year what it was. This is a year I will never
forget.
Kari Porter 4F
