Back in Germany
I have been back in Germany for more than 8 months now and I have to admit that my life is a lot different from what it was 1½ or two years ago. I suppose I have learned a lot and started to grow up. The year in California helped me develop my own personality. Before I had not been sure about who I was or who I was going to be. I did not even know who I wanted to be. I learned what it is like to be on your own and today I am a lot more mature and self-confident. Isabelle and I still spend some time talking about the US and we agree that it would be awesome to do the same thing all over again, in another town, another school and another state. Next time I would want to go to Texas or Arizona or maybe even Australia. I am still hanging out with a lot of Americans, since there is one of the US air bases stationed in Germany right next to my home town. My English has definitely improved and I like speaking it a lot better than German.

So if anyone will now ask me whether he/she should do the same thing I would recommend it to everyone. Now is your chance to get to know another country in a very different way. High School is the most important part in the life of most Americans... don't miss out on it. Join as many clubs as possible, take classes they do not teach in your home country, don't be scared of speaking English. Everyone will be there to help you if you show them that you are open for new things. When are you going to get another chance to start all over again?


2 ½ years after came back!
It has been a long time and my year in the States sometimes seems very unreal, yet I still miss it. Before I went to the States I was rather shy and reserved with strangers, while now I love meeting as many new people as possible. I have started being very involved in all sorts of activities at school.

You could say that the year abroad has changed not only my life, it has changed me, as a person. And yes, I have never been happier in my whole life!
 

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