May sure has arrived fast! I can’t believe my exchange year is almost over after living 10 months in a completely different country. From the first day I left my home, having said good-bye to all my loved ones, I started experiencing new things that will always be apart of me.

I will always remember my first day at Alliance High School. I realized Americans always like to be on time, since I arrived late to the class picture and everyone was staring at me, I felt very embarrassed.

Everyone was very nice and helpful in my first weeks, and I loved that everyone made me feel welcome. I also really liked that students and teachers were interested about where I was from and my culture.  I found it easy to interact with other students, teachers and staff members.

One of the main things I’m going to really miss when I go home is all the sports and school activities there are. I think it’s great and wonderful that students here have all these awesome choices to make throughout their high school years.  I found it great that so many people take time to make a student section at the games so we can cheer our school on.

The hardest adaptations I feel I struggled with included, practicing two hours every day for volleyball or tennis since in Spain we only do it two or three times a week and for less time.  Also, there’s a big difference with food, so it was hard for me to get used to the meals here because I’m used to eating more fresh products and not processed. My portions are smaller and we usually eat more times a day.

I’m very glad that I got to experience new classes that in my high school aren’t available.  My favorites have included, journalism because I’ve always liked to write in English since I was little and it has helped me improve my English level in many ways. Psychology was also great to take since I’ve always been interested in how and why we act or do certain things.

During a two month period I went every Thursday early to school to the sign language club. It was awesome! I thought it was great that there was a group to learn it since here in Alliance School there’s a deaf student.

All the school dances that there are during the year were also new for me. My favorite one was prom. The way they set everything up was fantastic.

Another main thing that impacted me when I got to Alliance High school is that they show how much they love and appreciate their country. In every room in the school there’s an American flag and every day after the announcements everyone stands up and says the pledge with their hand on their heart. Also in almost every public event they do the pledge.

Living with a new family and adapting to their culture was also hard to start with, but as the days went by I felt that I had been part of their family forever. It’s amazing how close you can get, and love another family from across the ocean from your home country.

My host parents have provided me with everything I needed. They took me to visit new places so I could learn more about the United States and always made me feel welcomed in their home.

One of the things I most liked about my host family is that they have two little boys and in my family I have two older brothers, so it was great to experience being the oldest and seeing what it was like to have younger brothers.

Also experiencing American traditions with my host family was very exciting for me. I found it funny because when an important holiday was coming up, all I would hear would be everyone getting excited about all the food there would be.

There are so many great things I could write about my exchange year but in general I have learned so many new things that have made me have a completely different perspective about the United States.  I’m so happy that my parents gave me the opportunity to be an exchange student this school year.

I am truly going to miss everything so much, but I’m looking forward to coming back to visit Alliance in the future.