There is a lot of good news in this update post. First off, I am not nearly as "homesick" or reverse culture-shocked as I seemed in my last post. I have come to terms with the fact that I am not in Belgium, and I have moved on and am living my life here. I am pretty happy with the way things are going. It is almost 2013, and it feels like I've been away from Belgium for so long. But much has changed in my life since I left.
I started university, and even though it's the same routine as in my last post, it's not so bad. I've made friends in my Spanish class. They are not yet people I feel close to or comfortable just asking to hang out, but maybe by the end of second semester we will be there. I am doing really well in school. I got straight A's in this first semester. I have the results for 3/4 classes already, and I'll find out the fourth in January.
I have friends outside of school too. None of them are really the same age as me, all a bit older, but I like that I can still feel a part of a group. More and more I feel accepted, appreciated, and loved by this group of people that is outside my family or my friends who are thousands of miles away. I am really glad and thankful that they are a part of my life. It's nice having some people to talk to and just having friends and people I can trust who are near by.
Last week I went to visit some friends from high school and grade school up in Toronto, which was a lot of fun. I really miss them too. It was almost weird to hang out with people my own age, since it's something I don't do much of anymore these days. I was only there for a few days, but it was nice to catch up.
Christmas has just passed. It was a little weird being here and having that normal Christmas I am used to. I kept thinking back to what last year was like in my second host family. But I had a wonderful Christmas and spent time with family I haven't seen in a while. I ate a lot. So much for losing all my exchange weight. Haven't lost more than a kilo since I left Belgium. And I probably gained another three this past week alone.
I am thinking about going on another exchange, but with university, for a semester or two in my third year. My choices are in the UK, Australia, India, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Jamaica, and France. I am really leaning towards going to India or Australia. I think it would be soo cool. And even in just considering my options, for some reason I am way more nervous than I ever was to do this than I was to go on my Rotary exchange. I'm sure I will be less nervous as plans become more official. Right now I'm just in the "what if I make the wrong choice/what is the right choice?" state of mind. Meanwhile I won't even have to choose for quite a while. But I am telling myself that there IS no wrong choice. Just like with the Rotary Youth Exchange, there aren't any places that are that much better than others. Everything is an experience and I am happy to embrace it. It's just that somewhere like India, Japan, or South Korea would be SO much more different than Canada or Belgium. But they are also places I REALLY want to go. I guess I'll just see how it unfolds and go the best place possible for my education in psychology, because right now, that's what comes first.
I've been holding out on the most important piece of big news. I guess I'll just spill it. I've booked my flight and I will be returning to Belgium in July 2013!!! I have been browsing flights and prices ever since I've been home, and I have never ever seen a price as low as one I saw with "Icelandair" one day, so I decided to go for it. I have to go back. I promised everyone, including myself, that I would, and I don't much like breaking promises. I bought it on my credit card and it's already paid for and everything. It's gonna feel like it's free by the time July actually rolls around!
I got my old job back at Metro, so I'm making a little money. Though I did spend a lot doing Boxing Day shopping. I spent over $250, but I saved over $550, so I'm not exactly disappointed. The best thing I bought was a leather jacket. Originally it was $500, but I spent $150 on it. Definitely worth it. I love this jacket. But when I spend money and buy things, it tends to be in bursts. Big bursts, far apart. After this week, I probably won't spend more than $20 until February or March. I bought a bunch of things I know I'll need while they are on sale, so instead of spending 50 bucks over a year, I spend 35 now, and don't have to buy any of it again until next year. I stocked up on things like make-up and body wash and moisturizer, things I know I need and use. So my wallet is sad right now, but it will be better in the long run.
So this year is now ending, and a new one will begin. In the year 2013 I hope to do more travelling. When I go back to Belgium I want to see a little more of Germany, and I intend on going to Peru in December of 2013, and hopefully bring in 2014!
I'll probably continue to update in this blog every once and a while. I was thinking of just letting it go, since it is supposed to be just about my exchange, but the truth is that exchange has changed my life in so many ways. It has made me the person I am today and I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing and pursuing the goals that I am if it wasn't for exchange! It never really ends.
Once an exchange student, always an exchange student!
