:)
"If you have ever lived abroad, you will have noticed this phenomenon in a particularly striking way. Most of us do nor ordinarily think of ourselves in terms of the state to which we belong. However, let us reside in a different state, and suddenly our native state becomes a most important aspect of our identity. Canadians living in the USA or Europe begin to think of themselves much more as Canadians than they ever have before, Nigerians studying or working in the USA suddenly begin to think of themselves as Nigerians, Americans living in Europe or Asia suddenly feel themselves to be vividly American, and so on" (Shively, 41).
I got this from my political science textbook. When I read this, I could totally relate. Right now, I feel more American than ever before....
Well, I just wanted to tell everyone that I have been doing fine. There is no reason for anyone to worry about me. Yes I am homesick sometimes, but that is a normal emotion to be feeling when a person is in my situation. My emotions here are like a roller coaster: one moment I feel as if I'm the happiest person in the world, and then the next I am sad and yearning to come back to the states. I know that in a month or two, I will be fully settled in. I know that when time comes to leave this amazing country, I will be sad. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for me. I know that in the end I won't regret it.
I have to admit though, I have a small fear of meeting new people. I am naturally shy; I have been since I can remember. It is hard for me to feel comfortable around people I do not know very well, but I am getting better about that. Like I said, my main goal this year is to overcome shyness and feel more self confident.
I am also here to embrace the culture. Germans are so incredibly different from Americans, but that is not a bad thing. I did not understand the culture differences at first, but now I am beginning to.
It's constant culture shock for me everyday though. Not only with Germans, but with the exchange students here as well. Everyone is so different from me. It's overwhelming sometimes, but I think that it is for any exchange student.
I think of myself as a baby in this country...I'm learning how to walk and talk all over again.
I got this from my political science textbook. When I read this, I could totally relate. Right now, I feel more American than ever before....
Well, I just wanted to tell everyone that I have been doing fine. There is no reason for anyone to worry about me. Yes I am homesick sometimes, but that is a normal emotion to be feeling when a person is in my situation. My emotions here are like a roller coaster: one moment I feel as if I'm the happiest person in the world, and then the next I am sad and yearning to come back to the states. I know that in a month or two, I will be fully settled in. I know that when time comes to leave this amazing country, I will be sad. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for me. I know that in the end I won't regret it.
I have to admit though, I have a small fear of meeting new people. I am naturally shy; I have been since I can remember. It is hard for me to feel comfortable around people I do not know very well, but I am getting better about that. Like I said, my main goal this year is to overcome shyness and feel more self confident.
I am also here to embrace the culture. Germans are so incredibly different from Americans, but that is not a bad thing. I did not understand the culture differences at first, but now I am beginning to.
It's constant culture shock for me everyday though. Not only with Germans, but with the exchange students here as well. Everyone is so different from me. It's overwhelming sometimes, but I think that it is for any exchange student.
I think of myself as a baby in this country...I'm learning how to walk and talk all over again.