To those who have done exhanges

[Kulla]

I`m going though a bit of a dilemma right now in my life. I`v been thinking about doing a student exchange for a year in another country but of course i am having many disconcerning thoughts that are making it hard to decide if i want to go or not.

I have yet to apply so i might not even get to go even if i wanted to so nothing is official.

The main thought that keeps going through my head is what i will return to. I`m in my 3rd year of highschool right now meaning that i would be going next year I possably may not be able to get any credits at all for my grade 12 year. With that I would have to come back for a 5th year of high school. That is where the problem lies. I do not mind having to do that 5th year, chances are I would any way well trying to figuar out what to do with my life after high school. The problem is if I leave to go for a year I may not ever seen any of my friends again. Along this I will always have in the back of my mind that any friends I make in a nother country I will only know for 10-12 months. This wouldn`t be too bad if I had know most of my friends for a while but most of them except two or three I didn`t really make till late last year. I guess thats also good because I have less personal conection to them reather then knowing them my whole life.

Basicly out of all that Im trying to ask a question if you missed it. Is the experance really werth it? Though I guess when it comes down to it we would only see each other for another year then collage. Maybe I just think to much :(

[keitaidensha]

I`m going though a bit of a dilemma right now in my life. I`v been thinking about doing a student exchange for a year in another country but of course i am having many disconcerning thoughts that are making it hard to decide if i want to go or not.

I have yet to apply so i might not even get to go even if i wanted to so nothing is official.

The main thought that keeps going through my head is what i will return to. I`m in my 3rd year of highschool right now meaning that i would be going next year I possably may not be able to get any credits at all for my grade 12 year. With that I would have to come back for a 5th year of high school. That is where the problem lies. I do not mind having to do that 5th year, chances are I would any way well trying to figuar out what to do with my life after high school. The problem is if I leave to go for a year I may not ever seen any of my friends again. Along this I will always have in the back of my mind that any friends I make in a nother country I will only know for 10-12 months. This wouldn`t be too bad if I had know most of my friends for a while but most of them except two or three I didn`t really make till late last year. I guess thats also good because I have less personal conection to them reather then knowing them my whole life.

Basicly out of all that Im trying to ask a question if you missed it. Is the experance really werth it? Though I guess when it comes down to it we would only see each other for another year then collage. Maybe I just think to much :(
senior year is not the time to go on a yearlong exchange. sophomore year is probablt the best time to go, because a) you are used to high school after freshman year and b) nothing important happens sophomore year.

you aren't going to know these friends of yours your whole life unless you all keep in touch like mad after high school and stay in the same area. you lose friends when you leave high school, and you gain friends when you go to college. that's just how it works. your really good friends will keep in touch with you anyway, and seeing them during the summer will be that much better.

if you want to go to a foreign country, i recommend during or after college, ideally for a language that you're already taking. you can do more of the fun stuff when you're older.

another thing to keep in mind is that going to another country for a year is NOT a matter you should take lightly. you have to make sure you're completely open to new experiences, would enjoy the new country, have something to do while you're there and are optimistic about the whole thing.

just some advice.

[Frankey-eh]

also, senior year is the worst time to do foreign exchange in Japan, because all the kids are pressured to focus on their exam... so you'd be alone trying to play around while everyone else got their nose buried in books.

I think it applies to more than just Japan though...

[Kulla]

if you want to go to a foreign country, i recommend during or after college, ideally for a language that you're already taking. you can do more of the fun stuff when you're older.


I aggree that During or after collage would be the best time to go. But I could never actually afford to travel on my own then. I don`t know how I`m even gunna pay for collage. I`m tring not to think about that till I have too. :D Saving up is not eazy because I don`t have many enployment options open to me. Living in the middle of no where with both my parants working full time just to make ends meet finding a job I can get to is not an eazy thing.

The thing about the exchange is that it would be imposably hard to get sponsered. The nearest town has a few places that I could probly get the sponser from and the next town over even more.


also, senior year is the worst time to do foreign exchange in Japan, because all the kids are pressured to focus on their exam... so you'd be alone trying to play around while everyone else got their nose buried in books.

that is a good point and somthing I never thought of. Im sure I can have plenty of fun on my own though sence I do most of the time anyways ;)

[Commander_Zigg]

I'm in almost the same situation as you are, Kulla. I'm in my senior year right now, and I've always wanted to do an exchange to Japan, but I started thinking about it too late to do it during my sophomore year like some of the other guys suggested. However, I have decided to instead do a language study exchange program during the summer vacation. It'll probably only be for 6 or so weeks, but that'll be enough for me, for now at least. I'm currently trying to find a way to start making money, and maybe soon I will get a job. These exchange things cost a pretty penny.

[keitaidensha]

I'm in almost the same situation as you are, Kulla. I'm in my senior year right now, and I've always wanted to do an exchange to Japan, but I started thinking about it too late to do it during my sophomore year like some of the other guys suggested. However, I have decided to instead do a language study exchange program during the summer vacation. It'll probably only be for 6 or so weeks, but that'll be enough for me, for now at least. I'm currently trying to find a way to start making money, and maybe soon I will get a job. These exchange things cost a pretty penny.
i was lucky (or smart, whatever you call it) enough to get a scholarship with the Youth for Understanding Japan American Friendship Scholars, so the otherwise $5,000 program was only $500 for me. it was a 6 week thing in the summer between sophomore and junior year, and while i wish i could say i had a blast, the fact is i didn't handle it so well. some of the advice i give is advice i have learned from others, but the hardest lessons are the ones i learned firsthand. when i have more time i'll go more in depth.

[Kulla]

Thats the reason I asked for oppions from people who have experance with this. Alot of my time alone now (and quite a bit of time with others) is put into thinking about this. The program that im going to aim for first (if i decied to do it) is the local Rotary Club. They send youth to other countrys on exchanges quite oftin (the one in my comuinity has sent 25-30 kids so far. I`m guessing thats sence the 70`s. Don`t know when they started) The diffrence with this program is that I stay with several host parants over the 10-12 months it is where-ever I end up. This provides a few diffrent looks into the cultures from diffrent familys through-out the area that I go.

Thanks to every one who has responed so far. Hasn`t help my decision any but it brought up a few more concerns, which is a good thing... Just doesn`t seem like it when your listoning to country music and are alone in thought^^

(Edit: Wow 13 views and 6 posts. Thats like a world wide forum record! I didn`t realise that when I first made this post :rolleyes: )