2016 was the year that everything changed for me, and it’s finally come to a close. It was a rollercoaster ride of thrills, challenges, and inspiration, all of which I would never want to change. So, here is a list of 10 things I won’t forget about 2016.
Meeting everyone in D7910. My home district, 7910, is a special group of people I am incredibly grateful for. From people helping me with any issues, to always having someone to talk to, I can say I am never alone as part of D7910. To Robin, Marcia, Jeanne, Alex, Hannah, Alec, and Jules, thank you so much for everything!
Leaving my family. One of the hardest things I had to do was say my goodbyes. I definitely didn’t want to, but I had to. When I made the commitment to going on exchange, I knew I wouldn’t see my family for almost a year. Walking away and getting on that plane wasn’t easy, but I’m glad that I did.
Starting to learn Thai. Learning a new language is far from easy, especially when it has a completely different alphabet, and there are sounds us as Americans don’t use. But I’m continuing to make progress every day!
Eating the spiciest food in the world. This is one thing that I have to do all the time! I’m getting a lot better at it, but when I first came here, it was unbearable. Now, I can manage some of it. Not the worst things, though! You aren’t really tough until you’ve eaten Thai food.
The end of my junior year. The end of the school year was bit sad, because I knew I wouldn’t be coming back. Junior year was a lot of successes, and overall, a very happy time in my life. I still miss everyone, but I’m incredibly lucky to be here.
The election. This is one that still hits a sore spot with me. However, it taught me that not everything will go my way in life, and even things I may think of as inherently wrong, others view as right. While I disagree with it, it’s taught me a lot about dealing with situations I’m not happy about.
Meeting so many new people. Here, I’ve met people from all over the world! From Germany to Argentina, I’ve met and become friends with so many people from different countries, who have taught me a lot about cultures and language.
Working, working, and working. Before I came to Thailand, I spent my entire summer working. Not the most fun, but I needed to save up a lot of money to pay for my exchange. On the bright side, I had a lot of work friends, and now I can say I have awesome customer service skills. Also, I get a year off, and I saved up so much that it’s not a problem at all!
Trips. I’ve had a variety of trips, from Chiang Mai, Nan, Chanthaburi, and more! While traveling is something we do quite rarely in my own family, in Thailand, it’s totally normal to do it very often. I don’t have a problem with that!
Being independent. This is the thing I am most proud of. While I do have the support of Rotary, my host family, and others here, at the end of the day, I am on my own. My exchange, my life, and my everything is in my own hands. I no longer have my parents, and I’m doing everything I need to do by myself. It’s not always easy. But feeling independent is one of the best feelings in the world. I feel incredibly prepared for the rest of my life, and my maturity has shot up tremendously. I am so grateful for my independence
I hoped you enjoyed a little look into the things I’ll be remembering from 2016. Until next time … oh, and 2017? I’m ready for you!
Issue Date:
March, 2017
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