Here is a note we got from one of our short term exchange students, Elise Zeidman. After she graduates from Cleveland High School she is going on another exchange, this time to Argentina.
I think like many things, a short-term exchange is what you make it; it can become a vacation, but can also be a life-changing experience. My experience with STEP has been unusual and amazing. I went to Ecuador last summer to stay with Xime and her family. It was the hardest, most uncomfortable and best experience of my life. In the language and culture as well as my relationship with Xime, I worked as hard as I could every day to make things work out, and it was not always easy. In fact, it was often far from easy. But, when I left last summer, I had a strong relationship with Xime and her family and I had begun to become comfortable in a foreign country.
Xime’s family invited me to come back this summer for Xime’s graduation. I spent about four weeks in Ecuador this summer. It was so wonderful to go back. Nothing feels better than working hard for something and having it turn out so well. When I went back my Spanish was good enough that I understood what was going on and I could be part of the conversations. I knew people already and I met lots more. I felt comfortable there, which couldn’t have been farther from the way I felt upon arriving last summer. I guess you could say this trip was more of a vacation (but then it was meant to be, wasn’t it?), but I also learned a lot more than I had expected.
I want to thank you for making all of this possible. It has been an experience unlike anything I had imagined and has changed my life. I would love to come to the Portland Pearl Club and talk about it. Thanks again,
Elise .
This is me with Xime, her brother, Mario, and their mom, Ximena, last summer when they took me to a bull fight (culture shock!).