Post by Tess on Sept 8, 2005 16:46:43 GMT -5
Alaksuleiel
Head Wise One
Be Afraid
Joined: 20 Aug 2003
Total Posts: 563
Alarwyn Liande, Step Forward!
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 5:14 am
for your raising hun ****hugs****
In Rhuidean you will find three rings, arranged so." Draws three
lines in the air, joining together in the middle. Step through any
one. You will see your future laid before you, again and again, in
variation. They will not guide you wholly, as is best, for they will
fade together as do stories heard long ago, yet you will remember
enough to know some things that must be for you, despised as they may
be, and some that must not, cherished hopes that they are. This is the
beginning of being called wise.
Recount one time in your life when a decision you made changed the
outcome of something in your life.
Ell
Head Wise One
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alarwyn Liande
Yellow Ajah Sitter
Joined: 18 Jul 2004
Total Posts: 584
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 1:24 pm
Yay!
*steps forward*
One of the greatest decisions in my life was when I decided to go to France as an exchange student.
From that moment on, in a way it separated me from my friends and ordinary life, since I had to prepare myself to be without them for a long time.
I always see my year in France as a jump. A jump to something I didn't know before, and a jump out of my 'normal life'. I knew I would come back to school after the year was over, but it wouldn't be the same thing. All my friends and family had lived on. I had to 'restart' it all, I had to take my life up from where I had left it.
I know some people think about an exchange year as a year of having fun and partying abroad, but for me it wasn't so. I really made great efforts at school and at home with my host family, and I also learned a lot about language.
Most of all, the year was about learning something important about myself. Some days were hard, and some days were great, and those good days made it worth being there. That's why it's so hard to answer to people who ask "Was it fun?" because you can't sum up such an emotional period in a few words. (That's why I usually answer "Yeah it was". Saves me from lots of questions.)
And, I had to survive on my own. Even though I had a host family which really liked me and helped me in any way they could, all the responsibility was mine. I had to take care I would make it through the year, not my exchange association or my host family.
All in all, I had a great experience. I learned the language (my main reason to choose France and not some English speaking country) I learned to trust myself, now I know that I'll make it through even when it's hard and stressing. Now I have some great new friends.
And when I came home... I knew it would be so different, and in a way it was. I had to get used to speaking Finnish again (I still do some mistakes, even though I've been home for months!) and get used to all the changes that had happened in my family and everything around me. Especially since my family HAD changed a lot. It all takes time.
My friends are now one grade over me, they'll be done with high school in a few months whereas I have over a year left, almost two. I had(/still have) to get to know my new class. I admit, sometimes I feel left out. But if you think it positively, I'll get to know more people in my school than my friends.
The exchange year also changed some plans about my future. Now, I'm pretty sure I'll live at least for a while abroad if possible in any way. And if it's not I'll just spend all my money on traveling the world around. My dear, safe, beautiful coutry has become too small for me. I can't see myself being restricted to one such a small place for the rest of my life.
I know I don't know yet all the changes and influences the year in France has had on me. Maybe some of those I never will. I just know that while it wasn't the beginning, it was a beginning. The exchange associations say that the exchange year abroad is the best year of one's life. I don't think it's so. I know that it certainly was a great experience, but I'd be extremely disappointed in myself if I left it there. I have a life to live still.
Alarwyn
(I hope that's good enough, and what you wanted.)
*huggles around*
Head Wise One
Be Afraid
Joined: 20 Aug 2003
Total Posts: 563
Alarwyn Liande, Step Forward!
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 5:14 am
for your raising hun ****hugs****
In Rhuidean you will find three rings, arranged so." Draws three
lines in the air, joining together in the middle. Step through any
one. You will see your future laid before you, again and again, in
variation. They will not guide you wholly, as is best, for they will
fade together as do stories heard long ago, yet you will remember
enough to know some things that must be for you, despised as they may
be, and some that must not, cherished hopes that they are. This is the
beginning of being called wise.
Recount one time in your life when a decision you made changed the
outcome of something in your life.
Ell
Head Wise One
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alarwyn Liande
Yellow Ajah Sitter
Joined: 18 Jul 2004
Total Posts: 584
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 1:24 pm
Yay!
*steps forward*
One of the greatest decisions in my life was when I decided to go to France as an exchange student.
From that moment on, in a way it separated me from my friends and ordinary life, since I had to prepare myself to be without them for a long time.
I always see my year in France as a jump. A jump to something I didn't know before, and a jump out of my 'normal life'. I knew I would come back to school after the year was over, but it wouldn't be the same thing. All my friends and family had lived on. I had to 'restart' it all, I had to take my life up from where I had left it.
I know some people think about an exchange year as a year of having fun and partying abroad, but for me it wasn't so. I really made great efforts at school and at home with my host family, and I also learned a lot about language.
Most of all, the year was about learning something important about myself. Some days were hard, and some days were great, and those good days made it worth being there. That's why it's so hard to answer to people who ask "Was it fun?" because you can't sum up such an emotional period in a few words. (That's why I usually answer "Yeah it was". Saves me from lots of questions.)
And, I had to survive on my own. Even though I had a host family which really liked me and helped me in any way they could, all the responsibility was mine. I had to take care I would make it through the year, not my exchange association or my host family.
All in all, I had a great experience. I learned the language (my main reason to choose France and not some English speaking country) I learned to trust myself, now I know that I'll make it through even when it's hard and stressing. Now I have some great new friends.
And when I came home... I knew it would be so different, and in a way it was. I had to get used to speaking Finnish again (I still do some mistakes, even though I've been home for months!) and get used to all the changes that had happened in my family and everything around me. Especially since my family HAD changed a lot. It all takes time.
My friends are now one grade over me, they'll be done with high school in a few months whereas I have over a year left, almost two. I had(/still have) to get to know my new class. I admit, sometimes I feel left out. But if you think it positively, I'll get to know more people in my school than my friends.
The exchange year also changed some plans about my future. Now, I'm pretty sure I'll live at least for a while abroad if possible in any way. And if it's not I'll just spend all my money on traveling the world around. My dear, safe, beautiful coutry has become too small for me. I can't see myself being restricted to one such a small place for the rest of my life.
I know I don't know yet all the changes and influences the year in France has had on me. Maybe some of those I never will. I just know that while it wasn't the beginning, it was a beginning. The exchange associations say that the exchange year abroad is the best year of one's life. I don't think it's so. I know that it certainly was a great experience, but I'd be extremely disappointed in myself if I left it there. I have a life to live still.
Alarwyn
(I hope that's good enough, and what you wanted.)
*huggles around*
