I didn’t know what to think…
I didn’t know what to do…
I just knew Michigan…
I am Melanie, 17 years old and from Germany. And I am an exchange student in Dexter, Michigan till June 2008.
I decided to be an exchange student after my brother did this experience in China. I thought it would be fun to be away from home for a year. But I didn’t know how long a year, a month, a day could be.
I am here in Michigan since August 8th 2007 and can say I like it. But to be honest, when somebody asks me how are you and how do you like it here, I would never response how I really feel because I actually can not say:
I am homesick; miss my family and friends, miss my German life and I don’t know why am I doing this.
But I have to say after almost five month I found my American life.
I found a family in Michigan, I found new friends and I feel this is my life.
I feel comfortable and it feels a little bit like home.
I made so many experiences, to be alone or to be with so many new people.
I know now, that you need a really good winter coat in Michigan because it gets cold.
I learned how to describe things without some words because English is my second language.
And I saw how open people are to get to know me and happy to exchange experience.
I am looking forward and hope that the time I have left will be so great like it was and is.
Michigan is a great state and for the future I just can say, bring more exchange students to Michigan and let them make their own experience with good and bad times.
And if you would ask me now, how are you? I would say great and not because it is polite. I would say great because I feel it and I am not really sure if I want to go back to Germany now because I am building my new life here and I like it…
