The time sure has gone by quickly. I can’t believe that half of my exchange year is complete. In the first two weeks, I cried almost everyday; I couldn’t believe how far I was from my family. I felt homesick.
I am really lucky to have an exchange family in America. They are so nice and friendly to me. I love them so much!
I was disappointed during the first several weeks at my new school. The work was hard for me. Everyone was new. They were all strangers. Now they are not. I have many friends beside me now. We have fun together. We laugh together. We play together. They are all excellent people. They are really nice, friendly, and cool. I love them!
Christmas just passed. I got many gifts from my family and my relatives. My parents gave me the most. They knew that I lost my watch in PE class. They bought a new watch for me. It’s really nice and sweet, isn’t it? We went to Eugene, Oregon to visit my relatives. I had so much fun there. The first day we arrived was exciting. I have a cousin named Brocky. He said, 『You are the cutest girl,』 in front of my family and relatives. Everyone heard him and laughed out loud. I was embarrassed. Is Brocky adorable? I don’t know.
My birthday arrived after Christmas. I celebrate my birthday on January 30th. It was so excited about my party. My mom threw a party for me the day after my birthday. It was so awesome. It was the first time I had a party thrown for me. It was a meaningful experience. My 16th birthday will be a memory that I will cherish in my heart. My friends came over to my party and brought gifts for me. I loved their birthday cards. They were so nice and sweet. They gave me their best wishes. My mom prepared a really big and heavy gift for me. I ripped off the wrapping paper. Wow, it was so awesome. She gave me a scrapbook. Now, I can make my own album of memories from my exchange year in America. It will be special;†the only one of its kind in the world.
The Saturday following my birthday was also special. My school had a dance called,†』Alice In The Winter Wonderland.』 It was the Winter Formal Dance. Students decorated the dancehall themselves. The place was absolutely beautiful. One of my friends, Megan, stayed at my house that night. She helped me design and curl my hair, and she put make-up on my face. I became a real pretty†lady that day. I looked so different. I had so much fun that night. The formal dance was the first dance I attended. It was a wonderful experience. I danced with my friends. The dance began slowly. I just stood there and watched other people dance. I don’t know how to dance at all. But my friends told me that you just jump†or move around. They didn’t know how to dance either. They just danced randomly. We stood in the cold night in our dresses after the dance. I had a wonderful time.†
Sunday, we went snowboarding. My mom and dad had been planning the trip since Christmas. I was so excited. Uncle Andy and Aunt Jenny came with us. They taught me how to snowboard. I had so much fun†with them. I achieved the impossible dream. I skied down the steepest slope. I was really afraid. I wanted to do it because I knew it would be a lot of fun. And it was a special experience for me.
My exchange year is almost complete. I can’t believe that I am going to leave my friends and family in America and go back to my country in four months. I will be really sad because I am reluctant to leave them. I have had so much fun with them. I have made so many memories with them. I know that I am going to miss them so much. My teachers are the best instructors I have ever had. They are so friendly, and they teach me so much. They explain everything so that I understand it. My friends help me to speak better English. They help me solve problems easily. They make fun of me, but we laugh out loud together. My family helps me figure out problems. They make fun of me, too, but I love them for it. We are very close to each other. I will never forget that I have met so many fantastic people. I feel that way particularly about my family. They are so funny, adorable, and amazing. I am really glad that I could stay here with them for one year. One year was the perfect amount of time. I bet we will keep in touch†for a long time. I am thankful for all of the extraordinary memories I have made with them this year!