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Diahann's Final Report June 2, 2005 |
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So After spending the 1st half of your year getting
comfortable and the other half making friendships and "bonding"
you get up one day and you realise that you only have 3 weeks left! How
sad is that???? Thats when the crying starts. Ha! my crying started 2
weeks ago while I was sitting in class and all of a sudden I found myself
in tears because I was thinking that in a month I wont see these people
who i've spent almost everyday with for the past 10 months ever again
maybe. I tried "burning" images of my friends' smiles and facial
expressions in my mind so that I wont forget any of them when I leave. I
have this intense fear that as soon as I get back home and start adapting
to my old life again...and my old friends that I'll forget the ones here.
Or worse...they'll forget me. I guess everyone has that fear. I also fear
that life back home will not have changed...but I most definitely have. I
dont know if anything back home changed. What I do know is that this year
has been incredible! I've learned soo much from my families....from my
friends....and from myself especially. Have I changed? Most definitely
yes! I am the QUEEN of budgeting money! I'm more responsible...more open
minded....more knowledgeable....more able to cope with difficult
situations and to rely on myself when there's no one around to help.
Physically of course like every exchange student, I have put on a few
pounds but every pound was worth it because the food here......can you say
AMAZING!
The main point of this exchange program is to learn a new language and a new culture. Achieving that was inevitable because of my host families. My first host family were political icons so everything from the past to present about Ecuadorian politics is well stored in my brain. My host family now consists of historians....poets....musicians....painters...novelists and journalist. Half of the house the I live in was awarded the Best Library Award in the entire province of Manabi. College students are in and out of my house everyday doing research. Need I say more???? I loved every minute of it. Time really does fly and the truth is I'm not ready to go home yet. There's a part of me that can't wait to see my friends and smell that salty Bahamian sea-air and of course the food! Oh Lord the food! But there's a huge part of me that cant bring myself to say goodbye to all the friends I've made and the family that I have. I have no fear that i'll forget this year even if I never come back. This year and these people who have impacted my life in some way or the other will always be with me....in my mind and in my heart. The exchange students that I've gotten to know are like family and that will never change. I cant really put into words how I feel and how i've changed in a way that you all will understand. ONly exchange students who have been through the process knows what I'm trying to say. Well I wish all of you luck in your futures wherever you may go. Thank you to Rotary International for creating this program and in turn creating a better future for my generation. Thank you to my host club....Club Rotario de Portoviejo "San Gregorio" for being so caring to me. Thank you to the best district that Rotary has...District 6990. Roy you're the best! And to everyone that I have made life long friendships with in Ecuador...what can I say except thank you...I love you...and I'll never let go! VIVA ECUADOR!!!!!! |
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