So Far; 3 Months on Exchange!

I want to quickly explain this blog post before you start reading below or watching the video. Angela Webster, my sponsor club counselor and a good friend of mine, recently had to do a presentation about Rotary Youth Exchange to foreign language students at Inter-Lakes High School (where I graduated from) who have an interest in the program. Her presentation was last Wednesday, and a few weeks before the presentation, she had asked if I could Skype with her or do a little something to add to her presentation. She said she didn't want to bore people. Well, I can say that I experienced a similar presentation about the program as a junior in high school, and I was anything but bored. No- the exciting and intruiging presentation ended up being the last thing I needed to make the decision and go on exchange. And because it influenced me so much, I was determined to give her something that I hoped would help convince others to take this opportunity as well. So, I ended up making a video and wrote a little something for her to present for me. Unfortunately, I had some technical issues and was unable to send her the video in time. But she was able to read what I said during her presentation and send the video to the language classes as a follow up to the presentation (when it finally uploaded). Now, as you probably already know from my blog, I could write for days and days. In fact, I could compose a bunch of persuasive essays and points about why exchange is so amazing right now. I wont do that for you, but I do want to show you the video I put together because I think it says a lot of what I wanted to say without all the words. Besides, we can't let all my hard work on the video go to waste can we? Not only is the video a sort of 3-month review of my time here so far, but what I wrote as an introduction and conclusion to the video is as true as it gets. This experience is totally worth it. And finally, I really hope that if anyone out there is interested in exchange- be it from my home town, or somewhere else in the country or even the world- that they consider what I say in this post, that they consider the significance of the video, and that they aren't afraid to contact me with questions. And to those of you reading this from my host district back home- I hope to see some of you at exchange orientation when I get back!

Without further ado, here is what I sent to be shared with the students:  

Hola a todos. For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Megan Reid and I was a student at Inter-Lakes and graduated with the class of 2013. I am currently on a gap year and am living this year of my life as a Rotary youth exchange student in the country of Ecuador.  I’m assuming the fact that you’re here for this presentation is a good sign; a sign that you are curious or interested in going on exchange and I am just the person to convince you to go.

So- you’re interested in exchange? First of all- if you aren’t my Facebook friend yet- add me. And if you don’t have my email, send me a comment so I can send it to you, or you can probably find it somewhere on my blog. That being said, you are more than welcome to email/message me and ask me questions, and if you want, I can talk your ear off about how awesome exchange is. But I am hoping I won’t need to do that after this whole presentation.

Exchange is by far the best decision I have ever made IN MY LIFE. I can’t even begin to describe to you just how amazing this year has been for me so far and how much better it keeps getting.

I want to show you a small portion of the life I am living right now with a video of pictures (it’s 2 songs long), depicting life on exchange- and trust me this isn’t even half of the pictures I have and I didn’t even include video. But before you see it, I want to say that even after watching this; you still won’t fully understand or appreciate the life I am living right now. I say that because the experience is different for everyone, and yet it is so unique that only people who have gone on exchange can relate. I guess the simplest way to say it is; you aren’t living this exchange...I am. 

So, how can one comprehend the feeling of living in a new country with a new family and a new school and a new language and a new culture and new food and pretty much new EVERYTHING if they haven’t done it? Well, you just have to go on exchange and experience it for yourself.

The video:

Though I can tell you about all of my experiences, share every picture and video; it is still up to you to decide to go on exchange for your own experiences and memories. If what you saw in the presentation intrigued you, excited you, made you jealous, made you want to have your own completely unique, special and fantastic life abroad, then all I have to say is- go on exchange! If you want a bunch of friends from around the world, if you want to be fluent in a language, if you want to become a more cultured person, if you want to promote peace in the world, if you want to strut around in a blazer covered in different pins and have people stare at you like “who the heck is that foreigner”, if you want connections so that you can travel around the world later in life, if you want to have unique stories and memories that will last a lifetime- I repeat- go on exchange!!!

Don't pass up the opportunity. If you are ready for it, go sign up- go out as a junior. If you still have doubts, maybe consider a gap year instead. But remember that the option is there. Write to me and I’ll happily and honestly respond to you with my thoughts. Talk to your parents. Go to your guidance counselor so they can help you figure out if this is an opportunity that you can take- if you are ready and if your schedule allows it. Most importantly, do not be afraid of the experience if the interest is there. It may be 10 months abroad- but time flies. And one more thing- exchange isn’t a year in your life; it’s a life in a year. 



P.S. This is completely unrelated- but HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Mema. I love you so much! Thank you for all of your prayers and support. 
I also want to wish all of my family and friends back home a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow. I will be thinking of all of you and missing you all. Know that I am thankful to have all of you in my life. And I thank God for this experience I am living right now.<3