My opinion on definitions:

This is a question that I think just about every one of us students, teachers, and really anyone who hears the word "exchange" asks. It's something that you could write a book about, and still not get everything that you wish to say across. Exchange is something that can be explained in many different ways, but no one will truly ever get the exact understanding until one is on exchange themselves. Of course though, each one of us is always going to continue to try our best find the best definitions for this one little question... because it's something each one of us students are most passionate about. Well, at least this is how I feel. I can only hope I'm not alone in these thoughts (and I'm sure, to all you fellow exchange students, you probably have the same thoughts in mind with at least some of this listed)

Some might say being an exchange student is unlike any other experience. It's putting yourself in a situation where you learn a new culture, have new families, and learn an entire new way of life. It's learning a language, making mistakes one after the other but accepting that this is completely okay  and instead of punishing yourself over it, you take it as a lesson learned. Some might say it's the most challenging thing they've ever faced. It's being away from your friends and family for a year (ok, depending on exchange it could be shorter/longer.. but one year is average for Rotary Youth Exchange) It's being away from everything familiar, everything you once knew. It's putting yourself into a whole other foreign world.. And this world is telling you "Go ahead, take a leap forward." - when really, that seems like the scariest and most impossible thing ever. Yet, you still take the extra step. Because that extra step is all you have. It's making new friends, eating new foods, living in a new house with a new family. It's adjustment.

On the other hand, some might say it's an adventure - an experience they love every minute of. It's a chance to travel - to see parts of the world we never would have imagined seeing before. It's living each day as if it were our last and having each day never be the same. It's making friends we will have for the rest of our lives, both foreign exchange students and natives from our countries. It's an opportunity to say YES to everything and to not hold ourselves back from everything we were once too afraid to do. It's getting an entire new family - both from host family ('s) and your fellow exchange students. It's a support group. An experience that every other exchange student is living - but yet, each exchange is completely u n i q u e. Some might say, exchange is the best decision they made in their lives. Some might say, exchange is the chance of a lifetime. 

And so, if you ask me "What is it like being an exchange student?" I would probably answer with said, and still have so much more to add. Exchange is something a year ago I never would have even considered and now I'm here in Finland, living the experience of a lifetime. I have to say even though I had no idea that'd I'd end up where I am today I am so happy that I did! Coming here was probably one of the best decisions I ever did make and it's truly going to shape my future in an entirely new way that I never would have dreamed of. Being on exchange you learn and grow so much. You get to see not only others lives in entire new perspective, but also your own. You truly learn what it is that you're passionate about and why your passionate about those things. You discover yourself along with discovering the world.

And there it is. My definition of being an exchange student. Some might agree, some perhaps may disagree. But this is my definition - my opinions on the entire situation. It's something that I want to share with everyone... either to let someone know they're not the only ones going through all of these emotions - whether happy or sad. And I want to share with those who have ever even considered the thought of becoming an exchange student themselves, even if just for a split second.. I promise you, it's worth it 100%.