Výmenný rok 2018 - 2019
To start writing this text, I have to be honest: I didn’t put Slovakia as the first country where I wanted to spend my exchange; I didn’t even know it was an option. However, a few months later when I was told that I could either have my exchange in France, Germany or Slovakia, I didn’t hesitate. I went for the option that was less common, more challenging, and the one I thought would give me that thing I was looking for in my exchange. My decision was the country that I now consider my second home: Slovakia.
Now that I’m back in Argentina, I can’t waste my time thinking about how different my exchange would’ve been if I had chosen anywhere else. I can only look at everything I learnt from being abroad, not only the great experiences, but also the hard moments, as well. Anyways, at the end, it was all worth it, I had the luck to live with two very different but lovely families, be hosted by a club well organized with kind people, go (almost) everyday to a welcoming school with really funny and friendly classmates, and of course, meet other exchange students from all around the world.
Throughout my time in Košice and other parts of Slovakia; I got to taste how Halušky and Kofola are an awesome combination! I had Horalky and Mila as a snack regularly, I listened to new sorts of music, went on trips by train for the first time, went on so many hikes and I always found myself in front of breathtaking views. I can say I learnt a really hard language that not many people know of—now I can talk to five million more people that I could not have before! As much as I learnt from their culture, I also showed mine. I gave presentations about my country and customs, made people drink Mate and eat Empanadas, and even showed a bit of Argentinian dance at the District Conference!
Exchange is not always easy, though. As the Spanish saying goes: nothing is just of pink color (it’s not all roses). It is understandable if there are tough times and struggle, because we are living away from our family, friends and everything from our homes for a long time. Therefore, I wished every future exchange student knew about these possible hard times, but in the same way understood that it is all worth it in the end!. In my case, I ended up experiencing so much; not only traveling, eating new things and seeing culture. I’m keeping a ton of memories, bonds in every continent and most importantly, that: dom, domu, dome, domom, domy, domov... might be different, but they all mean the same thing: home, one that I really miss and hope one day I visit again.
Thanks to everyone who helped me out on this decision I made—my life-changing choice.
