Thank Yous and Advices and Updates

At the end of November, I made the very hard decision to change my host family. This was a decision that I spent a lot of time and energy thinking about- I consulted everyone I could think of, I made pro and con lists, I gave myself designated thinking time- in short it was not a decision I made lightly. The reasons I have for switching are not something that I feel I have a right to put out on the internet, but I promise it was nothing bad. This things just sometimes don't work out, and I am 100% sure that both parties involved are happier because of it. 

After switching, I ended up moving in with my hosting coordinator and his family. The month I spent there will always be a great memory for me, making friends and playing with my host brother and having a totally fabulous German christmas. I cannot thank the Baving family and the awesome people at Borghorst Gymnasium enough for making a period that could have been a chunk of wasted time into one I know I'll never forget. Even though I was only there for a month, I really feel like I found a place there, and I know I will always be able to come back. 

So that brings us to now. I am living with my permanent host family in the little town called Moorrege, which is about an hours public transportation ride from the not-so-little town of Hamburg. I've been here three weeks, and I have already celebrated two birthdays (one of them mine), been introduced to the sport of Handball, and seen a whopping 20 (ish)  episodes of Shaun the Sheep. I am enjoying the heck out of being here, and I can't wait to see what the next 6 months here bring! 

Now that everyone is up to speed, I want to take a few minutes to address anyone who is reading this who is currently/ hoping to be on exchange. 

Before I left for Germany, the thought of switching host families was something that I thought other people did, but would never in a million years happen to me. No one really addressed it at our orientation camps, and I feel like I was a bit unprepared to deal with a situation that I was really unhappy in. So I just want everyone to know a few things about host family/ exchange in general, and because I love me a good numbered list, here it comes: 

1. Number one most important thing- SWITCHING HOST FAMILIES IS NOT FAILING

 I stayed in a situation that I really wasn't happy in way longer than I needed to because I convinced myself that changing it would be a form of failure, and sticking it out would be the strong thing to do. This is true for some situations, but really, you only get a limited time on exchange, and there is absolutely no reason to spend it in a place that is simply not a good fit. Sometimes these things don't work out. It's no one's fault, no one failed, host families are just really hard and they all can't work out.

 2. Use the people who are there for you. They want to help you. 

Again, I spent way to long in a situation I knew was wrong, and it was partly because I didn't tell anyone how unhappy I was. I thought it was some sort of weakness. It is not, it is simply using the resources provided to you. That is why these people are there. They want to help, and most of the time they are helpful. 

3. Your exchange organization will respect your wishes. They want you to have a good year as much as you want you to have a good year.  

I told my hosting coordinator after I switched that one of the reasons I didn't ask sooner about switching was because I thought AFS would say no, and he told me that as soon as an exchange student says straight out that they want to switch, it will most of the time happen. Obviously they don't want kids switching for no reason, but if you are unhappy they will move you

4. Switching families is totally common and OK. 

20% of exchange students switch host families, and it is totally possible and probable to have an awesome year, even after switching families. People do all the time :) 

So ya. Please please please if you are an exchange student and you need someone to talk to who's been there do not hesitate to leave a comment. I really want to help. 

For all my BMore people-  I am doing grand. I'm having adventures and eating weird foods and speaking a funky new language, so I want you guys to know you can all stop worrying. The cards and texts and Instagram DM's have meant so much to me, but I am happy to say that I am once again feeling pretty darn happy. Thank you for helping me get there.