About 3 years ago I wouldn’t have ever imagined myself to be on the
other side of the world writing something like this like I do right now. I’ve
heard so many exchange students to tell how they decided to go for an exchange
when they were like 10 or so. At that time I had heard about the exchange
system but I had never really thought about it. I always just thought it’s
something I could never do. That I could ever be strong and brave enough to do
it…
On the 22nd of february I packed my suitcases and said
goodbye to all my friends and family. I jumped on the plane and flew to the
other side of the world. The climate changed from -17 to 27 and all the people around
me were speaking english. I didn’t know anyone from the whole country except a
few finnish exchange studets who I had met once a couple of months earlier on an
orientation camp. I moved to the house of totally unfamiliar people and I started
to learn the manners and lifestyle of them. I had to figure out what is
acceptable and what are the rules and stuff. I went to the new school where I
saw 1500 new faces but I had met none of them before. No one of them spoke the
language I used to speak for all my life.
People have asked me how my english was before coming here
and how long I’ve been studying it for. I’ve studied english for 8 years. We
get grades on a scale between 4 and 10 at school in Finland and my english has
been 5-6 in high school. I’ve always felt incredible uncomfortable with going
to an english class and I always thought I’m not even able to learn it. My
host-parents were actually the first native english speaking people I had to
speak english to. And on top of everything, before coming here I heard many
people to tell that the accent of kiwis is so extremely unclear and almost
impossible to understand. That was one of the things I was quite scared of. As
I have never passed an english listening comprehension in high school if I
remember right. So it’s not really surprising that I was a bit nervous to use
english in face to face conversations. However, I realized that people don’t
actually even care about the level of english and I stopped being too careful
with the grammar rules. New Zealand is also super multicultural country and you
can easily hear many different accents and they’re all equally valuabe. After
starting school here I was actually surprised how easy the accent was to
understand. However, many people speak real fast so basically always I had to
ask people to repeat the sentences at least once. And so many times I didn’t
totally understand whether something was just a normal sentence or a question
and usually it just ended up by being a funny moment after the little awkward
part. And so many times I reacted when hearing someone to say yeah nah (an
expression that kiwis use a lot which sounds like my name when saying it in the
finnish way haha). I love kiwi slang and all the funny little worlds and
expressions they use and perhaps some of them have even influenced to my
speaking. I can easily say I’ve learnt more english during these past 10 months
than during all those eight years and I’m pleased about it. I know my english
is still not perfect (and my accent is funny, right I got it guys <3) but it
was never the point. I’m fluent in english, I can use it in daily conversations
and be so much more confident than before. And I can write this text without
google translate! (Oh and special thanks to my friends for teaching me how to
say sushi properly, finally got it after all these months.)
At the beginning of my year I met three other exchange
students from my school and we became really close incredibly fast. (missing
you girls <3) I also met many kiwis (new zealanders) and made great new
friends of them. I got to see the kiwi life through them and discover how kind and warm people they are. I felt really welcome from the very beginning. People were so friendly and helpful when I was totally lost and trying to find a right class room or whatever. I made more exchange student friends who we could share feelings and problems with. It's crazy how people who were just strangers for me a few
months ago mean so much to me now.
When you’re suddenly put into an unfamiliar society you might,
no doubt, feel lost and lonely at times. You get days when you don’t want to
talk to anyone and all you want to do is to speak your native language without
struggeling. But as no one would understand you, it’s obviolusly not an option.
You might feel out of the place and everything is simply just annoying and odd.
You think that no one can understand how it actually feels to be a foreigner
and you just feel pressured by everything. But all you need to know is that
those feelings and days pass by. All the good moments matter anyway so much
more so you just need to go through some bad ones. I know it’s such a cliche
but it’s true. It’s personal, how strongly everyone experiences the
homesickness. I would say that it hasn’t been too hard for me even if I had those
days when I just wanted to sleep in my own bed, eat my favorite finnish food
and hug people I love. Anyhow, traveling alone makes you more independent and
you grow as a person. And longer you wait something for, the more you’ll
appreciate and love it when you finally get it. Because anything worth having
is definitely worth waiting!
I feel like almost every exchange student says that the time
just flies and the year is already gone before you even realize. To be honest,
I was lying in my new home, in my new bedroom, on my new bed, on the very first
night and the only thought in my mind was that I already wanted to go back. Why
the hell did I move to the other side of the world? 17000 km away from
everything normal and easy. I just hoped the time to go fast. Those feelings
went away in a few days and day by day I just wanted time to go slower. Now
after ten months… the most amazing and unbelievable 10 months of my life, I can
say that the time has gone sooo fast. Way too fast. I’ve shared so many lovely
moments full of joy and happiness with my friends and host family. All the days
when we went into town and did various things. All the times when we went to
our favourite cafe (never forget cafe addict <3) or got fish and chips on
the beach as real kiwis. All the times when I sat in the livingroom with host
parents just chatting around, eating and watching movies. A huge special thank
for my host-parents who always helped me with everything, supported and
encouraged me no matter what. <3 I also spent the best 11 days of this year
and maybe even of my life in South Island with the other exchange students. All
those nearly 3000km that we spent sitting in the bus, laughing, playing, singing
and learning new languages. Without forgetting the craziest moment in my life
when I jumped from a plane from the height of 4km in Queenstown (as known as the
adventure capital of the world). I was a part of dance and drama groups at
school and got a certificate for cultural achievement as a newly discovered
talent and learnt heaps new valuable skills. I went to Australia for a week and
experienced the athmosphere of a metropolis and learnt the traditional Haka in
New Zealand. I travelled with friends all over the country and saw places I’ve
wanted to see for a long time.
Before going for an exchange I didn’t quite pay attention to
my nationality or where I come from. During this year I have started to love
New Zealand and its culture. I’ve also learnt to appreciate my home country so
much more. I appreciate the finnish school system which is ranked number one in
the world. I’m proud to speak on the most difficult languages in the world and
have an opportunity to learn more languages. I love to experience four seasons
a year and have the nature around me. I couldn’t be happier and more thankful
for all the people I’ve got around me. I have the best family and friends back home who
I’ll see soon and the best family and friends over here who I’m gonna miss like crazy.
This year, I’ve learnt to be patient, try new foods, tell my
own opinion, accept the opinions of other people, be helpful and ask for help.
I’ve learnt to think differently, step out of my comfort zone, communicate with
another language and appreciate many things. I’ve learnt to hold on, let go and
be myself. I’ve learnt things about the world, different cultures and ways to
do things. I have made friends from all over the world who I can visit in the
future and always have a place to stay at. I’ve fallen in love with this
country, made life long friendships and unforgetable memories and been proud of
myself.
I’m excited to see all the people in Finland again. 10 months
is a long time and things and people do change. I’m still the same person but I
can still easily say I’ve changed. To be honest I’m also a little scared of
going back home. I can’t know how much things have changed and what if I feel
like I don’t belong there any longer? Despite everything I know that people who
are meant to be in my life haven’t disappeared anywhere and I really look
forward to the future! I can’t wait to see my perents, relatives, sister, our dog
and all my friends. And as weird as it sounds, I actually miss studying and I’m
quite happy to go back to school. (Even though I’ll propably think the opposite
straight away after returning heh).
As I said, my time here is coming to its end. I've got only 7 days left in this amazing place. I’m gonna spend as much time with my family
and friends as possible and enjoy the last moments before going back to ”the
normal” life. I have to sort out how I'm able to fit all my things into my suitcases cause at the moment I have no idea. In a week time I’ll get to the point when I find myself
standing at the Wellington airport and I have to say good byes again. (If
somebody has ever been thinking if there’s anything bad with going for an
exchange, I think it’s definitely the fact you have to say good bye to so many people.
And you just have to face it and live with that). I already know it’ll be a
real hard thing to do but luckily I can keep in touch with people and visit
them in the future. And I’m not going to say goodbye to New Zealand forever. NZ
and my home city (as well as my favourite city) Wellington will always be my second
home and I’ll definitely come back one day.
Going for an exchange has been the best thing that has
happened to me. I’m gonna miss everything and everyone heaps but I’m certainly
coming back later on. Now I just want to say a massive thank you for every
single one who was even a tiny little part of this trip, you guys made my year
<3! Lots of love xx
