To All The Exchange Students

What no one tells you

There are a few things you are told as an exchange student.
You are told about the rules.
You are told not to call your parents for every little problem.
You are told who to talk to when you have problems in school or in your host family.
You are told homesickness will occur for everyone.
You are told to make new friends.
You are told to learn a new language. You are told to try everything.
And you are told not to be afraid.
But there are some things they don't tell you:
No one tells you that this whole exchange year is going to be one of the hardest years of your life.
No one tells you to be brave.
No one tells you that sometimes you just wonder why you are here.
No one tells you how.
How to be an exchange student.
How to learn the new language.
And how to make new friends when it doesn't seem like anyone likes you.
So let me tell you something. Sometimes you will feel lonely or sad. And that is okay.
It is okay if you don't know how to this. It is okay to make mistakes and it is okay if you just want to be alone sometimes.
You will be tired.
You deal with time change and constantly process your surroundings. Taking a day off is not a bad thing.
Even if everyone tells you to do everything.
Sometimes you need a little break. Breath in.
Breath out.
And then go ahead.