Gloria

交流生計劃 (愛達荷州)

University of Oregon

“I can’t believe it’s over!” I mumbled and was disappointed by the fact that time flashes by so fast. It’s time for me to leave the huge brown walled room I owned for a year, the big pretty house that I live in, the delicious homemade American and Italian food, peanut butter jelly sandwiches, the swimming pool which is just pumped for summer, the strong “yummy” smell of onions, the cars that I take to go everywhere instead of public transports… and of course the people there. Oh man, I’ll definitely miss this desert state!!

Remember around the same time last year, early in July, I was enthusiastic that I couldn’t wait for going to the States. I had no ideas what Idaho looked like though. “Does it look like New York or California?” I wondered. If I told people in Idaho about it, they’d probably laugh their butts off. That’s true. It’s nothing like those states. All it has is desert and cattle… oh, and onions too! It is totally another American culture experience, for sure but I’d wish a million times to be in Idaho for my exchange year even though the area is boring. Who wants to go to prosperous cities to experience true American culture which is no fun at all? You can simply sit at home and watch fancy American movies filming in L.A or San Francisco.

For the people, I really love them to death. There are lots of Mormons around Fruitland, where I was staying at. However, most of them are the nicest, sweetest and awesome kids I’ve ever met. They are so welcoming that on the first day of school, I was shocked by their friendliness. They are easy going and eager to meet new friends. On the first day of school, I ALMOST got tardies for every class since I stopped on the hallways A LOT, introducing myself and say hi to people. Indeed, I am notorious for getting many tardies … I hope that the teachers there will still like me for the fact that I was late to classes all the time, and I talked non-stop in class.

Here comes the most exciting part, which is to live with the McGinley’s family, my host family. They are the coolest host family I’ve stayed with. They celebrate a lot of festivals – some of them are not even on the calendar. Guess what! I won the pizza making competition!!! I always teased some of them that it was my first year, the only year that stayed with the family but I’ve already won the prize. They also took me to places and stuff. I am so lucky to have them, my family in America!

Throughout this year, I’ve grown up and learnt a lot. I told myself NEVER take things for granted. I’ve got family, friends, and happiness in America, but those things are not always there for some people. I feel thankful for what I have right now. And I feel grateful for those people who love me and who cared about me. I won’t be quaky about what I possess. I’ll take my favorite quote for the ending of this essay, which is “imitation is suicide”. Who cares what other people think? They just like you for who you are and what you become! “