Relationships with the host family
From the very beginning, I got along very well with everyone because they are open-minded people, and I can talk freely about any problem. A nice memory with the family was when we went to the hometown of my host mom for her niece’s birthday. We celebrated and danced together and had a lot of fun.
The things that particularly impressed me in this country (both positive and negative)
One negative thing that struck me is the high level of pollution (and other related problems such as the lack of recycling and sewage that flows into the river or sea) because the places I have visited are really beautiful, but they get ruined this way.
A positive peculiarity is that when you walk down the street, everyone always greets each other. I remember when I went out with my friends and a lady said to us: “God bless you.”
3 words that describe my experience so far (explain why I chose it)
The three words are: growth, knowledge, and resourcefulness.
- Growth because I feel I have grown a lot, especially mentally, since being in contact with another culture gave me the chance to better understand the lifestyle and the entire cultural heritage of the Panamanian people.
- I connect this with the second word: knowledge. This is because I was fortunate to meet many people and visit many different places, not just sticking to my city.
- Lastly, I chose resourcefulness because the year abroad inevitably pushed me to get hands-on experience, encouraging me to try more and more different situations.
Anecdotes/Open Commentary
I feel I am undoubtedly a more mature person. Living almost independently for a year carries some weight: it teaches you how to manage your space and face your problems in the best way. Moreover, as mentioned, I lived in contact with a completely different culture and learned to accept even its most controversial peculiarities.
My intention is to return once I finish high school: it’s a small but big dream, and I want to make it come true.
My advice to students about to leave is to always throw yourself in. Never be afraid to experiment. The experience you will live is unique and you will carry it in your heart forever. Live it to the fullest and learn to appreciate the little things, the ones that really matter.
