What an amazing week! I hadn’t seen the exchange students
since early December so it was great to see everyone and meet all the newbies.
Most exchanges go from late summer to early summer of the next year, but some
go from January to January to match up with their school year. These are the
crossbounds. Our oldies left in January and we just all the newbies for the
first time.
There are 2 South Africans,
3 Argentinians,
And 2 Australians
It was so great to meet everyone for the first time and
spend a whole week together. We spent most of our time in a hotel in Szolnok
trying to learn more Hungarian. They let us out a few times to go bowling and
to go to a Rotary event. The bowling was fun, but more importantly, we got to
buy food. Most of us just stood around the chocolate and tried to decide which
one to pick.
The Rotary event was a costume party where we introduced
ourselves and danced late into the night.
We were important enough for the mayor of Szolnok to show up
and wish us good luck in learning Hungarian.
The best part was just hanging out with everyone. It didn’t
matter if we were dancing or playing games. I love out group so much because
anyone can hang out with anyone and different nationalities intermingle easily.
I know how to say phrases in five different languages. I have friends that don’t
speak English. This is what being an exchange student is all about. Now, world
events have more meaning to me. I care more about a terrorist attack in France because
I know people there. A hurricane is Mexico affects me because my friends live
there.
I hope we did a good job of welcoming the newbies into the
exchange student family and that they will do the same for the next group.
-Alina Mendoza
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