MAIL4you - Los estudiantes de into escriben...

Sophie S. - 1 semestre en Oakland, Nebraska, USA 2010

I learned a lot and found out who I am and what I can do, ...

I´m really, really happy here! I have been here for almost 5 month now. The people I met have such a huge heart. I´m like a part of their family. I have to leave in like 4 weeks. Every day I get closer and closer until i leave and I actually don´t want to. But I decided that I have to go back, because of my family and my friends and especially because of school. That´s like it is. I really have met a lot of people, actually from really different countries. There are other exchange students in my area,  from Brazil and even people from Germany, too, not far away from my city in Germany. However, everything is just awesome. I thank into really much. All those experiences were a lot of fun. I learned a lot and found out who I am and what I can do, even if it seems impossible. I will enjoy the rest of my time here in Oakland, Nebraska. With all those new friends and kind of new families. Moreover I am going to sing the national anthem on the 17th for a basketball game. I´m really excited and I think it´s really a honor to be able to do that. Thank you very much. To all exchange students: Enjoy your time in America, it won´t be easy to leave!

Daria D.  - 10 meses en Québec, Canadá 09/10

From the very first day on, everybody treated me with a high degree of kindness and sincerity so I was hooked ...

Since my favourite subject has always been French, I decided for a 10-month stay in a French-speaking country. I was especially tempted by Canada, and so it happened that on 18 August 2009 I was on the way to my host family in Mont St Hilaire. It is a place on a hill surrounded by woods, just half an hour drive from Montreal. My host family were Natalie and Paul Forest, with their two daughters, Allison (16) and Emily (13). English and French are both official languages in Canada. However, French prevails significantly in the easternmost province of Quebec. And as my host family were anglophone, I mainly speak English with them. Elsewhere, I could also rely on my knowledge of French, because it was spoken in schools and shops.

When I learnt that my Collège Saint-Maurice in Saint-Hyacinthe, was a girls' school, I was worried that there would be plenty of feuds. Nevertheless, it was the other way round. From the very first day on, everybody treated me with a high degree of kindness and sincerity so I was hooked right from the beginning. If I had any problems or difficulties, everybody tried to help me and thus I have never felt like a stranger. Just short after, they would occassionally come running towards me shouting proudly: "Isch liiibe disch". Obviously, from time to time I found it odd there were no boys at all, but it did not bother me much. In my school, classes begin at 9:00 and end at 15:42 and this schedule is the same for all grades. One lesson lasts 60 minutes, you have 3 of them in the morning, lunch and then other two lessons. I went to school on a typical yellow school bus that stopped almost directly in front of the front door.

I did not have as wide range of subjects as may be found in the U.S. My subjects were English, Maths, French, Art, Sports, Chemistry, Physics, History and Religion. The lessons were quite easy, so despite a few problems at the beginning, I was able to follow the course well and my grades were mostly better than the average. I signed up for my school volleyball team in the first week and had a training twice a week.

I found surprising that the students could address all the teachers by their first names. But over a period of time, you get used to anything new. Various activities were offered even during the lunch break so I often spent it in the library or in the gym and I also participated in tournaments. The latter took place throughout the year and every couple of weeks there was a change of sport activity. I had a lot of fun especially when trying out new sports such as hockey or lacrosse. An absolute highlight of the school year was the five-day school trip to Jouvence. There we spent the most of the time outside in the snow (Oh yes, one can hardly complain about the lack of snow in Canada).

The major event was at the end of the school year when we celebrated our graduation! All my school mates had been talking  about this event crazily and I'd often heard detailed reports about dresses. At last, it was there in June. Although many of us still hadn't taken their final final exams, our "GALA OF FINIS ANTES" was already taking place. We had a pre-gala in the afternoon where only the female graduates were present. Some students had prepared different perfomances and we all laughed with tears. These were either programs reminding us of the fashion styles in different school years, humorous videos or shows full of singing and dancing. There was the gala with parents in the evening where we all wore hats and capes, just like in the American movies. (The hat now hangs in my room). Diplomas and prizes were awarded and various performances were held as well. I had so much fun and I guess partly  because everything seemed a bit unreal. There I sat, like everyone else with my hat and my diploma and celebrated! During that evening I just realized what the real team spirit and I felt great! But the biggest event was yet to come: Our Prom! Or in French, "Le bal des finisantes". My personal advice: This event cannot be missed out under any circumstances! Even though I'd had a lot of information regarding this event beforehand, it was a way bigger than I'd expected: there was a long red carpet rolled out in front of our school and tons of spectators were staying around. Everybody was driven in a fancy car. My friends and I were in a caravan with balloons, which was pretty unbelievable, there were even three huge cement trucks, a sailing ship on wheels, a golf cart, limousines... By far, the most original one was a real fire truck, out of which did jump not only graduated students, but also a few good-looking firemen. Stripped to the waist, of course;). You were then being driven up until your own name was announced by a microphone and you walked down the red carpet receiving a big applause and being photographed. The clothes were really great and to suit all tastes, be it short or long, plain or colorful, lavish or simple, homemade or purchased. There was  no one who would stumble and everyone was galvanized by the long awaited grand entrance. When everybody arrived, we followed to the school cafeteria which was hardly recognizable. Everything was super decorated with chandeliers, flowers, sofas, and we sat at really nice round tables. Then we had a delicious meal, soon after a DJ started the music and we all danced. So it was an exciting night and it was our last time as high school students.

All in all, I can only advise everyone to spend a year in a school in Québec, it is an unforgettable experience! I am still in contact with my friends in Canada and I hope to see them again someday!

Jana – Galway, Irlanda

Wow, I cannot believe it.

Dear into!
It's all right here in Ireland, no problems at all. Next week we'll be having our Mid-Term Exams, which means: Study, study, study! But after that we're going to have holidays and I’m going to do a trip to Dublin with all  my friends. Wow, I cannot believe it. I've been here for nearly two months, that means there are just three months left. Wow, time goes by so fast.
See ya, Jana

Hanna – Edinburgh, Escocia

Hey,
I'm good, I'm still very happy and I love my family. Jack is always singing and dancing in the kitchen and Alice tells me stories about her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren and everyone else in the family, so I'm always well informed!
We've holiday next week. ;-)
See you, Hanna

Nicole – Westfield, Australia, 10/11

Hello into,
I’m soo happy to be here in Australia. I got the best host family and feel so good. They’re very lovely persons and I didn’t get homesick so far. The beach and the ocean is unbelievably beautiful. And I can’t wail ‘til it gets summer My favourite subject at school is Outdoor Education and last week we’ve been upsailing on a 18m drop. It was so funny…
Love, Nicole

Stine - Australia 2005

Hi into,
I’m really happy to be here. I have no problems with my host family, they are really nice. I think my English is doing better and at school I found some nice people to talk with. Everything here is like a dream for me, but I’m glad that I decided to do this exchange.
Stine, Australia

Sanne - Australia 2005

Dear into,
This is a great month, because I had birthday. We went to the beach and had cake and punch. My hostfamily made it very special for me. I love Perth and I am sure that I will come back sometimes. I am enjoying the beach and the life in the city. School is ok, not very hard, just normal. Everything is going well here. I just went on a trip with other exchange students last week. We went camping…

Good day. Sanne

Lara, Lina & Caro - Napier, Nueva Zelanda 10/11

Hey into!
New Zealand is awesome!!!!
We really enjoy being here.
Even though we only have spring holidays we spent the last days at the beach in the sun.
School is relaxed and the teachers and Jody Stent are really nice :)
We never wanna leave Napier again!!!
Laura, Lina and & Caro

Martin - 10 meses en Alemania, 09/10

Después de llegar, todo resulta mucho más fácil que uno espera...

Buenos días,

le escribo en respuesta a su email acerca de mi estancia de intercambio y consejos para los estudiantes que piensan en ir al extranjero. Debo decir que mi estancia de  intercambio me encantó. Respecto a la relación con mi familia anfitriona, no hubo ningún problema y creo que ambas partes compartimos la misma opinión. Nos llevamos muy bien y cada vez que necesitaban algo, intentaba a aydarles. Así fue también al revés. En cuanto al instituto, tampoco me puedo quejar. La única cosilla era que para ir al instituto me tenía que levantar muy temprano. Pero no se trataba de un problema mayor.

¿Qué puedo recomendar a futuros estudiantes de intercambio? En el momento de decidirse para ir al extranjero, lo primero que hay que hacer es estudiar el idioma de su destino mucho más en serio como había hecho yo. Cuando llegué a Alemania, no tenía tantos problemas con la comunicación y gracias a eso, hoy puedo decir que tengo un nivel muy bueno. Respecto al tema psicológico, es decir, echar de menos a la familia, depresiones etc., creo que en esta época de skype y facebook, estos problemas (por lo menos en mi caso) han sido mínimos. Recomiendo que, antes de vuestros viajes, no penséis tanto en la despedida con vuestra familia biológica y que viajáis sin saber bien a dónde. A esa hora ya tenéis información de la familia anfitriona, incluso habéis contactado con ella, todo el papeleo ya lo tenéis resuelto, sabéis que os espera y por lo tanto no hay que preocuparse de nada. Después de llegar, todo resulta mucho más fácil que uno espera (en mi caso fue así). Si sois por lo menos un poco comunicativos y amables, hacer nuevos amigos no va a suponer ningún problema. De todas maneras, no creo que las personas que no lo sean se apunten a un programa de intercambio.

Para terminar, sólo se me ocurre una frase que nos ha sido repetida tantas veces en el Seminario de preparación y de la cual estoy completamente convencido gracias a mi propia experencia – "¡Pensad en positivo!"

Saludos,

Martin