Loved that...

WE ARE EXCHANGE STUDENTS
"So much is said about being an exchange
student, but only when you experience it. Things make sense. It is
definitely not easy and whether you want it or not, you'll end up
changing and growing. Once your exchange is done .YOU finally realize
that you can handle way more than you could and would ever imagine.
You need to appreciate things you have because they might be gone sooner
than you think. Life is not easy. True friendships are really
forever. The best part about being an exchange student is not about the
parties or places. You get to go. Not the independence and life experience,
but the 'friendships' I'm not talking about the friends you made from
your host country but about the other exchange-student friends. For most
of us, they were the very first "friends" we had in this new
experience. We met them in orientation meetings or trips, etc. They
were the first people we actually talked to without having the fear
of speaking in a different language. No matter what, there's a big
difference between "host country friends" and "exchange student
friends". Exchange students have a special bond. Despite language and
cultural differences, you'll understand one another because you
experience similar situations. The hardest part of facing the end of
your exchange year is to accept the fact that it's gonna take a while
until you have the chance to travel the world to see your exchange
friends again. Because once you leave your host country, deep down
inside, you know that sooner or later you'll be back, but when are
you going to have enough money and time to travel the world again???
Some of us became friends because we were placed in the same schools,
lived in the town nearby each other. Others we met along the year, during
trips and meetings... The trips... first ay nobody knows each other,
everyone is shy... By the end of the trip everybody knows everybody
and says good bye in the last day is as sad as when we left our friends
and family in our home countries... How many lifetime friendships and
romances started with. "How can I say this in your language?" It's
hard to believe that so much can start from such a simple sentence! Does
this story sound familiar to you??? Just wait, it gets worse... The
very first trip, when it is time to leave is not so terrible because
you have the whole year ahead of you, so the chances of meeting
everyone again are very big. Time goes by and your year is slowly
getting to an end. You have your last trip... Probably it will be the
very last time you'll see most of your exchange frien ds for
"God-knows-how-many-years"... And this feeling is just horrible!!!
It's when you wish things would never end. When you wish you could turn
back time and do everything again, and maybe do what you want but
never had the guts to, like kissing that girl/boy or spending more time
with A, B and C... And there you are, saying good-bye, fighting the tears
and making promises to people that you could never imagine you would
meet in your life... Unfortunately things don't always work as we
want and not that everything is possible... Once your year is done, it
is when you realize who you will ALWAYS miss the most. Your exchange
friends spread all over the world. And one day you're gonna be at a
Geography or History class and as some countries are mentioned,
you'll think about your friends that are half way around the world away from
you, and you'll have to fight the tears again... Their occasional
letters, phone calls and emails are go ing to be of unbelievable
value and will bring joy to your bad day/week. And this is what this email
is about.

Most of us never thanked these 'friends' and never said how
much they mean to us. So here it is 'THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK
YOU'. You are all wonderful, special and unique, and I've been made a
better person just by knowing you. You've made my year unforgettable.
And I don't think I'll ever forget the time we spent together!
Hopefully we will meet again someday! Doesn't matter how many miles
keep us apart. I'll always be here for you. The end of our exchange
year doesn't mean the end of friendships. As said before 'true
friendships are forever'. "As we go on, we remember all the times we
had together. And as our lives change, come whatever. We will still
be friends forever". Send this to all your exchange friends and exchange
students you know!"

Wow!!! I should say, this is exactly what I feel!! Of course I've met couple of my exchange friends here in Moscow, bt the best ones live in other countries. I'll send this letter to Shahlo from Uzbekistan and Cecile from France... We had so much fun together and now we email each other couple times during the year...

You are so right. I still keep in touch with some of my exchange friends. One of them is in Japan and we arranged our holiday trip to meet up in Mongolia. It g\felt like threre were no five years of living apart. Everything was just like in the US... unbelievable. But you didn't mention your host family. I love them :) I went back to visit them and I am waiting for them to visit me. They are still one of the dearest people for me as well as my exchange friends.