It’s still so weird to think how it has been over seven months since that day I woke up on a fresh Auckland morning, looked out the window and took what would be my last long look at my home city for a long time. I still couldn’t quite wrap my head around the journey I was about to embark on, it was hard to realise that in a few hours I’d be flying to a new country, new people and new experiences all of which would be my life for the next year.
As I touched down in Frankfurt airport in Germany I was nervous and really tired, but the excitement seemed to override all of that. Though my first day was quite blurry, running on no sleep and a whole lot of jetlag, every day since then has been a taste of this great new world which had been awaiting me this whole time. If you told me a few years ago that I would be standing beside the leaning tower of Pisa, walking down the streets of Napoleon’s hometown, and climbing the stairs of the Cologne cathedral I would’ve seen it as a distant dream. Luckily for me that dream came true and I have had the opportunity to visit so many amazing places in multiple different countries which has been really surreal for me.
Every part of this exchange has been surreal: through my time here so far in Germany so much has happened, I could not possibly explain all of it. I have made friends who I will know for the rest of my life. The very same people who have gotten me through the hard times and made the great experiences great, people from all different cultures and places who I am proud to say have become some of my closest friends.
On my second day here in Germany, another exchange student and his host dad came over for breakfast. I have been lucky enough to have César, who is from Colombia, living in a town only 15 minutes away from mine. To this day he is my best friend here in Germany, together we have gotten stuck at train stations in the middle of nowhere on our way to AFS camps, swam in pristine lakes in Italy, built snowmen together in the icy Swiss alps and gone to some of Germany’s most amazing churches and museums. I could not have asked for a better friend here in Germany, and I know he will be one of my closest friends for the rest of my life.
Not only that but now I have a second family, I have parents, a brother (and even a cat!) who will always be family to me, people who I can go to when I need help and when I want to share in my best moments. They have supported me when I have struggled and they have made sure that I have made the most of my time here in Germany, showing me this amazing country and all of its unique culture. My family has been a big reason why I have had such a good time here in Germany, I can’t believe I have such amazing people who were willing to have me in their home for this year. I can’t wait for them to come visit New Zealand and for me to come back and visit little old Wörrstadt in years to come.
Only a month or two ago I found myself in a bus at 7am on a Sunday, surrounded by my classmates as we made our way to Tuscany, Italy. It was a school trip to another country, a crazy concept for me. That trip ended up being a big highlight of my time here so far, I got so much closer with my classmates driving around Tuscany together visiting beautiful cities, walking along serene beaches and climbing up to little towns nestled atop looming mountains. Just one week, of which seemed quite average to my classmates, was a completely new experience for me, one that I will cherish forever.
Last week my family and I went to Corsica, a French island just north of Sardinia. I had the best time. We ate such good food, explored hidden beaches and walked around admiring the beauty of cliffside towns. I cannot explain how grateful I am to have had such experiences with such great people and I’m not sure I will ever be able to. As a kid growing up in New Zealand, so far from everywhere else it has been such a blessing to be able to go off and see the rest of the world so early in my life. New Zealand is an amazing place and I love it, but now I can safely say, it’s pretty great over here as well 🙂
So if anyone reading this is even slightly considering going on an exchange, hear me when I say it will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life, so take that leap, enquire further and I bet you’ll start realising how amazing life could be as you explore the distant corners of the world.
Inspired to find your own experiences with AFS? Check out our available programmes here and get your application in today!
