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1. • CommentAuthorRebecca Thomas
   • CommentTimeMay 22nd 2009 edited

    

   Here's a fun thread from the old board.  Let's see if we can keep it going...:

   Main Topic
   
   You know you're an exchange student when...
   Meghan R Shruck -- 9/24/2006
   
   You ask for some type of food/snack/drink to be care packaged to you as your X-mas present. You have problems understanding people in your native language because you instinctively assume they're speaking your host language and listen for words in that language. Back home, you watch lame documentaries on the History channel in the hopes of seeing your host country or hearing your host language. You have at least five stories you could never tell your parents. You ever got out of punishment of being yelled at, or gotten out of school work because you didn't understand the language or pretended that you didn't. You at least miss 2 months of school because of traveling or just because of that 'I don't feel like going today...' You can sing all the Top 20 songs from your exchange year...even a year later.... You buy everything in sight with the name of the country you went to visit so when you go back people are bound to ask you about it. You're so used to another culture and language that your home country is a distant memory. You can trick people at American parties into thinking you're from wherever you went on exchange. Getting yelled at doesn't bother you because they just sound so funny getting all worked up in a foreign language. You wait all week for your school's one English magazine (TIME) to arrive in the library. People believe you when you say that back in America your house has 10 TVs and you eat hamburgers 3 times a day. You make references to your exchange casually all the time, because sometimes you'll find someone who actually cares. You want to kill your classmates in your foreign language class back home, because they're not as good as you are - but of course you secretly like it that way. You get letters and emails in a language that no one else can read. You've ever eaten anything called 'masonja', only to later discover it is actually caterpillar stew. You've ever attempted to fit all your worldly possessions into 2 suitcases and a carry on. (And have succeeded, more than once!) You cringe at the mention of 'baggage weight limit'. You can describe in perfect detail every symptom of traveler's flu, but still travel anyways. You can swear in 20 languages but only speak 2 or 3 fluently. The only reason you have for wanting to go to a country at first is 'the guys/girls are really hot' or 'I hear the food is wonderful' or you don't even have a reason. You're living or have lived in a country that most people can't identify on a map, or in a city that nobody you know besides you has ever heard of... ... and you recommend it as a vacation spot to all your friends. ... and when you get home, you're automatic friends with anyone who has even heard of it. You crave food that would make most people where you're living go 'ughh....' (Whether you're abroad or back 'home') You have a supply of some food that you're hoarding because you can't get it wherever you are. The best gift someone could possibly get you is a can of Mt. Dew / a jar of peanut butter / tortilla chips and salsa, American style / marshmallows You watch really stupid television shows late at night (like Jerry Springer and curling competitions) and you stay up late to do so, just because they're in English. (Or in my case BBC) Your excuse to watch really stupid programs (like Jerry Springer and curling competitions) is that they're subtitled/dubbed and thus it's all about learning more of the language, right? Your family calls you by the name of your hair color, because it is natural and not found in the country you're in. You have been in the country long enough that when you see a 'foreigner' you laugh and shake your head - but you never help, just watch. When you get together with other students, the only stories you tell are the ones that AFS does not need to hear. It becomes habit to introduce yourself by saying 'I am from (country) and my name is (name) It's a shocker to actually have clean clothes for once in your life, because you don't do your own laundry back home. Every day is a new adventure and you don't consider it a day unless something worthy of story telling happens. Water in unopened bottles is your best friend. (For the guys) the nearest restroom is exactly where you're walking. You read books you've never heard of and would never dream of reading if you were back home because they are the only English books in your city. You 'talk' to your pets when you phone home. You find the things that were strange to you when you first arrived so normal that you now think the equivalent back home is strange. You become really good friends with people you barely spoke to back home because they e-mail you more than the people you considered your 'good' friends. You can't imagine what life will be like without all the wonderful things you have experienced and friends you have made in your new country. You speak the wrong language every time you open your mouth for the first few days you are back home after the first few days of speaking the wrong language, you speak your own language with a strange accent. You can't remember the words for things so you make them up, and everyone understands exactly what you mean, or thinks that your word is cooler than the real word. People mistake you for a local until you speak (sometimes even after). You help tourists because you know where the nearest bank is, how much it costs to mail a letter, how to use the pay phone, what bus to take, local customs, etc. You can't walk through a public place (e.g. train station) without seeing someone you know. Major tourist attractions no longer faze you (e.g. you go to the Grande Place because there's an ATM there). You can understand things in languages you've never studied You no longer know where home is. You have dreamt in the native language of the country your in, and had no clue what in the world happened, let alone what was said. (Hey! That's happened to me!) You get offended when people try to speak to you in your native language. You find that speaking in your native language becomes strangely difficult and you forget words that you have known almost your whole life. You can't pass a pastanesi/patisserie/bakery without getting something, or at the very least pressing your nose up against the window. You've eaten things that you wouldn't like to know where they've come from or what is in it. You've got friends on more than two continents. You can legitimately argue with yourself in 2+ languages. You have actually done this. You worship a hand written letter that went 'snail mail' The first words you learned were the 'bad' ones You go to school only to do nothing You worship Pepto Bismol (South American exchangers you know what I am talking about) You have Pepto Bismol in tablets, gel caps and liquid. ...You take all three at once to give it a kick. You've received foods as gifts from your host family. (Mine was a watermelon) You begin to talk to the animals in the house or just random objects You begin to think like you're 4 again, because you have no language. You begin to feel like you're 4 again, because everyone just leads you from place to place and you never know what's going on. You asked what something was and then received it as a gift. When you call home your family is convinced you are getting stupid because you can't speak your own language. You have trouble explaining to your host family why you celebrate certain holidays in your country. You can't say your host family's phone number in your native language, only in your host country's language. It is common to see a dozen stray cats outside your apartment. You forget your home address (in your home country). You worship chocolate chip cookies freshly baked from the oven. It's normal to you to see a man walking a cow down your street. You can pick a tourist out of the crowd because they're dressed so weirdly... and you don't consider yourself one of them. You have eaten animals you once considered pets. 'Good job! I understood you!' is a compliment. You and your native friends talk about and mock English speakers right in front of them, and then the tourists get all charmed that they are listening to 'real' people from that country. You are reading this list and find it hilarious, though people around you reading it say 'I don't get it.' Got any more?
   
   
   Responses - In order received...most recent at the bottom of page.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   natalie lockwood -- 9/24/2006 3:08:18 PM
   
   hahaha that was pretty damn good. you've ever gone to another part of your host country, and been teased for having a "southern hillbilly accent" even though you're from los angeles/new york/etc. you've ever gotten on the wrong bus because you misunderstood the number/time that your host parents told you. that's all i can think of off the top of my head.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Nicole L Wright -- 9/24/2006 3:45:04 PM
   
   haha omg i love this post...sorry i dont have any to add but that was great to read!! thanks :)
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Nicole L Wright -- 9/24/2006 4:05:26 PM
   
   oo and meghan where did u go on exchange?
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Fiona Sloan -- 9/24/2006 10:50:00 PM
   
   Hahahahaha... Great post! How about this... You know you're a wanna-be exchanger when: You check discussion boards about exchange, like this one, multiple times daily (ie: in between classes, before you go to sleep). You daydream about your future escapades...and yes, sometimes they are romantic ones. You talk about exchange so much that your friends get sick of it. Instead of doing your homework, you read about different countries, or practice learning a language that you don't need to know for tomorrow's Chem test. You search high and low for any and every book (especially Fiction) about your country -- and rejoice when you found one who went on exchange there. When you're feeling down, you just imagine how amazing the next year will be. Whenever anyone asks you about your upcoming year, you rant on and on until you absolutely must, must stop. Whenever you are shopping, every piece of clothing you consider must pass the "could I see myself wearing this on exchange" test. Every minute that goes by not knowing the future of your application/acceptance feels like an hour. You rarely focus because you are thinking about exchange. You already think about what you'll put in your carry on bag. Every once in a while, you have a sudden pang when you ask yourself why on earth you would want to, or why you ever could, leave your family and/or friends. You count down the days, even if that means that today means that you have 348 days until you leave for your adventures. You are reading this post and laughing to yourself because you know that you're guilty of all of it...and you love that someone else is too. -- :-D Love you guys! Fiona (PS: Keep the post alive!)
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Lauren M Pacho -- 9/25/2006 5:37:19 AM
   
   ughh... 348 days. Can't we just cut out the three?
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Nicole L Wright -- 9/25/2006 10:00:16 AM
   
   ahh for the wanna=be exchangers...i totally am guilty of all them..especially when i go shopping? will i use this there, could i use this there?
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   maya weeks -- 9/25/2006 10:13:12 AM
   
   you're used to not understanding what's going on around you. you think at least in phrases of your host language. you say the name of your country and other countries in the name of your host language (i.e., sweden is sverige). you don't do anything in school. you get frustrated with your friends and family back "home" when they don't understand you speaking/writing in your host language. you have the appearance of your suitcase(s) memorised. you've gone a day or two without sleep while travelling... maya, yp SVERIGE NU
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Mary Frances Simon -- 9/25/2006 3:46:16 PM
   
   i like the future exchange student ones. i do them all the time. like right now im supposed to be doing my 2nd semester engligh when im gone but look where i ended up...
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Lauren M Pacho -- 9/25/2006 3:51:33 PM
   
   Ditto on the homework thing...why isn't this paper writing itself?
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Fiona Sloan -- 9/25/2006 4:01:32 PM
   
   Agreed! Why can't I focus on Chem, or AP Euro, or, um...much else? Haha
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Barbara K Korte -- 9/26/2006 10:32:09 AM
   
   hahahahaha this one was definitely true... It becomes habit to introduce yourself by saying 'I am from (country) and my name is (name) i think ive said hallo, ich heiße barbara und ich komme aus america about a million times in the past month!!!!!!!!!!!
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Jake Ryder -- 9/26/2006 10:39:04 AM
   
   you think back to a memory and cant remember what langauge it happened in, even if it was 30 seconds before, or a week, or anything, haha, its the most dissorienting thing ever.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Becky Jensen -- 9/26/2006 11:16:35 AM
   
   lmao, I love this post-when I have more time, I'll add a few :)
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   maya weeks -- 9/26/2006 1:02:05 PM
   
   you eat any food you can get ahold of with whatever topping you can find. you spend most of your money on public transportation. you ask in your host language, "is it okej if so-and-so from this country lives here this weekend?"
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Jake Ryder -- 9/26/2006 1:30:11 PM
   
   you know you're an exchange student when you get on the wrong bus. every. single. day. hahaha, «does this bus go to x?» «yes» and you're on it for half an hour and realize its not going to x. at all. lol
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Lauren M Pacho -- 9/28/2006 4:54:43 PM
   
   Here's another list of these---->None of the customs in the foreign countries you travel to seem strange.... at all. Your cure for homesickness is running to the nearest grocery store and buying the only jar of peanut butt there, and then eating it... with a spoon. The song on your myspace is in your second language. The thing you miss the most about home is your driving privilages. Macaroni and Cheese seems like the most exotic food ever by the time you hit 6 months in your exchange country. You are in english class in school and actually learn something new. You start planning ways to keep your new second language as soon as you get to your exchange country. You have "learn how to speak....(insert language other than english)" on your IPOD or MP3 player. None of your friends in America know who your new favorite bands are. The only reason you haven't kept in touch with people at home is because they dont have a MySpace. The first thing you look foward to doing is sleeping in your own bed. When you return home, that "learn how to speak (insert language here) program is for your native language). (for Americans) You actually understand why the World Cup is such a big deal. When you go on a twohour trek through the rain to find Mexican food. When you return home and realize that people in your part of the U.S. really DO have accents. When you get really annoyed at the lack of cultural immersion in college study abroad programs, despite the fact that everyone else in the group thinks that such "babysitting abroad" (aka "Enclave") programs are AWESOME...
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Meghan R Shruck -- 9/30/2006 7:05:36 AM
   
   I'm in Latvia now, by the way.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   maya weeks -- 10/8/2006 4:01:21 AM
   
   awkward, accented, incorrect english sounds normal to you.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Meghan R Shruck -- 10/8/2006 7:30:40 AM
   
   Hmmm...How about you tend to feel like you're in the Sims! Everyone speaks gibberish. They go out in their formal wear, meet someone, talk to them, walk home, and that new person follows you home. :-) You've gotten marriage proposal upon meeting someone because you're American. When people don't know much English they say lyrics to Americans songs they know, even if it's all bad words. Or they say, "Don't Worry, Be Happy. Drink Pepsi, Be Sexy." etc. People ask you to teach them American bad words, but they actually know most of them already. You've eaten things you probably never want to know the contents of. You suddenly speak English like a foreigner, forgetting words like the, an, a, will..small words-and with an accent. Most of your expenses have been towards chocolate and international calling cards. You've learned not to repeat the words of a host sibling, because they tend to be bad words. You've mistakened bad words for good words. lol..I have to tell a story! So in Russian the word pronounced bah-leen is bad, but bleen-eh is pancake. So my sister hit her head while we were playing on the playground one night and said, "Bah-leen!!!" I said, "PANCAKE!!!" lol..it was funny, you had to have been there. You've mastered the art of stepping over passed out drunks on the stairways of your flatt. However, the first time you had to do this, you were afraid they'd suddenly wake up and attack you as if in a horror movie. When people on the train that don't know you start talking to you in your host language and once they find out you don't speak it, they announce it to the whole train. Hmmm...I'll have to think of more. Meghan Latvia 06-07
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Lydia Celestia -- 10/8/2006 10:41:12 AM
   
   you're in the process of eating everything you see and getting very fat, you can't count to ten in the language you've been learning in school for the past 5 years, you're asked every day to help someone with their english...
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Jake Ryder -- 10/8/2006 10:47:30 AM
   
   when you introduce yourself you pronounce your name with the accent of your host country.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Emily Hyndman -- 10/9/2006 7:32:09 PM
   
   when you don't speak english or your host language, but a mix. (for me Czech + English = Czinglish), when you don't know a word, you pull out your dictionary and point, or you make up a combination of words to describe it. Things that used to seem strange now seem normal. Public transportation is taken for granted. You forget words you used to know in english, and when you email/call your parents, you use host language words too. (Funny Story: In Czech "Ano" means yes...and no is "ne". But alot of people shorten Ano into just "no" and I started doing it too...and when I would call my parents, it got really confusing. I still do it, and I've been back for 3 months. I'm just like, no no no...I mean, YES...and then usually a czech swear word...lol)
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Claire E. Gunter -- 10/11/2006 10:07:55 AM
   
   you took your first bus ride on your exchange trip. You learned how to de-bone fish at the table like a surgeon. You learned to eat anything and everything put on your plate. Your little host siblings said they loved you. You told your host parents you loved them. You talk to your friends at home and are relieved that they have kind of forgotten you (because you don't think of them as much). Riding in a car becomes a once a month thing (at best). McDonalds fries are green (olive oil!). You get back to your home country and have no idea even where to start. You return to your host country to visit and yes, it is still there and loving you. You introduce your parents to your host parents and serve as translator for entire conversations about yourself. Stamps are figured into your budget. You have an overseas bank account at age 17. You know wine. Wine knows you. You don't smoke, but always have a lighter. Even though you don't smoke, you do at discotechs. You were afraid to get your hair cut because of the language barrier, so you got shaggy. Your host parents took you to the salon and held your hand. You still ended up with bangs. You have tried fruit you never imagined existed and have actually gone fruit picking in your host country (sometimes traveling to do so!). If you are thinking in your host language and someone sneezes, you say whatever the host language would say. Even if you are back home. You freak out when you arrive. You scheme to go home. You love it. You freak out when you leave. You scheme to "go home." You make it back one day. Everyone is still there. And you stay.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   natalie lockwood -- 10/11/2006 7:50:27 PM
   
   when a woman calls your home and asks to put you in a box and have you pop out of it for her son's 18th birthday cuz he "loves everything about america". you do not know this woman. you do not know her son.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Emily Hyndman -- 10/12/2006 5:19:38 PM
   
   Natalie-WHAT??? lol, that needs explaining.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   natalie lockwood -- 10/12/2006 8:24:12 PM
   
   hahaha well here's the story. i was sitting at home when my host mom called me into the kitchen for a phone call. i say hello and this woman starts going off about how her son's 18th birthday's coming up and hoe he loves italy and she was talking soooo fast that i was having trouble keeping up plus i was kinda shocked by it. well finally she gets to the part about why she's calling me. she says "my son loves america so much, i'd love it if you could come to his party and maybe we could so something special like...put you in a box and you could jump out of it and yell happy birthday or something." so obviously i was a wee bit shocked by this and said umm i don't think so. so she says "okok, if you don't wanna go to the party we could just hide you in his room and have him find you." at this point i realized this woman was completely out of her mind and hung up. we kept wondering how she got our number and finally called AFS and sure enough the president of my chapter had given her our number knowing that her and her son were kinda nuts. they had host two american girls before. the first left cuz the son fell madly in love with her and she got freaked out and went home. so he bought an engagement ring and tried to track her down to propose but couldn't find her cuz she gave him a fake number and stuff. so they hosted another girl i guess to "replace the first" but she switched families pretty quick. it was actually really really funny at the time but me and my family were pissed at AFS for giving them our number without asking first.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Ariana C Tuckey -- 10/14/2006 5:45:03 PM
   
   You speak English with the grammar of your second language, once you return you hate the question "so, how was (insert host country name)", you have MSN messenger just so you can talk with your exchange friends.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   natalie lockwood -- 10/14/2006 9:18:07 PM
   
   oh my gosh those last two things YES. i HATE when people go, so how was Italy? i tend to answer "fine, how was the last year of your life?" funny thing is the only people that really gave me some good questions were my 8 and 10 year old cousins. and i practically live on MSN. Nat, Italy, YP 04-05
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Emily Hyndman -- 10/14/2006 9:38:07 PM
   
   I don't live on MSN, but on ICQ and Skype. Cuz we can talk...but it makes me cry to hear the sound of my friends' voices. But yeah...I definately live on my computer now. And Nat, waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay strange, but funny! :-D
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   maya weeks -- 10/15/2006 11:29:15 AM
   
   i don't know, before i came on exchange i could never think of what to ask returnees because there's so much to ask. "how was *your host country*?" just about covers it all; i think that's why people ask it... especially if they want to know more than what the food is like or if the language is hard to learn or something. they could just be in awe of you and not know what to say.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Elysia c Peitzman -- 11/30/2006 3:17:55 AM
   
   When you have dreams in your second language.(Not yet for me but I do say spaciba instead of thank you in my dreams) When you start reading english words as if it was you second language *story!!! My host sister and I were watching a music channel and the sond was in english and behind the singers there was a wall with graffiti that said HOME. Well I read it as if it were russian which would be "nome"(e=ey) and I turned to my host sister and then realized it was an english word. I told her I thought it said nome and she laughed at me.* When your 3 room flat becomes big. I will think of more!! Elysia YP Latvia NOW! 06/07
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Jennifer J Moore -- 11/30/2006 8:50:52 PM
   
   This post is really funny. I haven't gone on an exchange yet but... You know you're GOING to be an exchange student when... 1. Your caught day dreaming in first period, second period, third period... Heck in all your classes. 2. You spend hours reserching the language your going to speak. 3. Your parents can't wait for you to leave because they are tired of listening to you talk about your host country. 4. You greet your friends in your host country (going to be anyway) language. 5. Your friends know what you are saying cause you speak it allllllll the time. I can't really think of too many that haven't already be said... Some of these may have even been said. Though I don't think that anything is more true then day dreaming. Every time I don't know an answer when my teacher calls on my they just give me this look. The look that says, "Again!!! Didnt I already give you dentention for day dreaming..." Hey it happens to me.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Rebecca L. Thomas -- 12/5/2006 5:36:24 PM
   
   As previously posted, "It's normal to you to see a man walking a cow down your street." Furthermore, it is just as normal to see a cow walking ITSELF down the street...
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Elysia c Peitzman -- 12/7/2006 3:56:05 AM
   
   You know you are an exchange student when you are stared at at the pool because you are speaking english. When you find people looking at themselves constantly and consider it normal. Hmmm... what else? Elysia YP Latvia 06/07
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Rebecca L. Thomas -- 12/7/2006 1:08:54 PM
   
   When someone introduces you to another foreigner by saying, "This is Dale. He speaks English."
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Rebecca L. Thomas -- 12/8/2006 1:54:47 PM
   
   When you actually understand people better when they speak to you in your host country's language than when they attempt (keyword "attempt") to speak to you in English...
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Benjamin J Schutz -- 12/10/2006 2:24:45 PM
   
   oh my gosh yes. and when you talk your native language in translations of your second language. (i.e. gibt es einen bus? = does it give a bus?) haha yeah i did that once ;) ben....schweiz jetzt
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Benjamin J Schutz -- 12/10/2006 2:27:55 PM
   
   i thought it was hilarious =P
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Ariana C Tuckey -- 12/10/2006 3:18:02 PM
   
   LOL ben. I still do that, "cuales son las paises que coneces?" = "what countries do you know?" (what countries have you been to) Plus when you can't respond to things in English. I still say sí, gracias, and entonces instead of yes, thank you and so/then Whenever I want someone to repeat a question I say "Mande?" Ariana YP Ecuador 05-06
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Rebecca L. Thomas -- 12/10/2006 7:15:55 PM
   
   When you're on the phone with your family and use a word from your host language... then realize that your family has no idea what you're talking about... (Viva unintentional Spanglish! jeje...)
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   maya weeks -- 12/12/2006 10:52:47 AM
   
   when do you don't understand a movie or song because you're not expecting it to be in english...
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Rebecca L. Thomas -- 12/20/2006 11:35:15 AM
   
   You have been asked what "F_ck you" means by someone who honestly doesn't know...
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Elysia c Peitzman -- 12/21/2006 3:55:30 AM
   
   When you also have to explain what suck my d*** means. When the ticket lady on the tram comes up to you and starts speaking to you with her face 3 inches away from your face. When your host sister messages you that you don't need to go to school today and you kind of are bumbed about it. When you are used to people staring at you on the tram, bus, or anywhere. When you get excited when you understand a full conversation, even if it was on a stupid subject! When you read little kid books to you host family and mess up at least 15 timnes for one paragraph, and you feel proud of yourself!!! I will think of more! Elysia Latvia YP 06/07
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Victoria Baena -- 12/21/2006 5:32:01 PM
   
   hahaha these are amazing!! i havent gone yet but you know you're going to go (hopefully!!) when...you constantly talk about exchange to your friends and are so frustrated at how little they care that you obsessively read every single post on the discussion board. haha that is definitely me :)
   

2. • CommentAuthorRebecca Thomas
   • CommentTimeMay 22nd 2009 edited

    

   The old thread continued...:

   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Rebecca L. Thomas -- 12/23/2006 4:17:17 PM
   
   When your boyfriend tells you you're fat and you don't slap him. (You've gotten used to it, because everyone tells you you're fat... It's just normal...)
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Emily Hyndman -- 12/25/2006 12:24:37 AM
   
   ~When you tell someone in your host country that you're american, and they go "no youre not, you speak (insert host country language). You can't be!" and you have to speak english to prove it to them. ^_^ ~When you come back and your parents tell you that you speak "funny" ~When you get really annoyed that people can't say things in your host language right. Or even just in the languages of your friends you were on exchange with. =) ~When you risk burning down your kitchen to make a dish from your host country, even though you've never made it, or even really know how. ~When you spend money you don't (really) have on candy (mostly chocolate and stuff) that you find at World Market (or some other import store). ~When you get kinda sad on Dec 5 because there is no one to celebrate Sv Mikulas with. ~When you get depressed because you're missing the Christmas fair/tree lighting
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Mary Frances Simon -- 12/25/2006 1:27:09 PM
   
   celebrating st nicks day in the US is regional. here in WI most people celebrate it by putting stockings up and st nick fills them over night. so move to WI if you want that tradition;)
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Rebecca L. Thomas -- 12/25/2006 7:25:23 PM
   
   When you look at the date on your watch, realize it's only two days until Christmas, and think, "WHAT?!" Because it can't be almost Christmas... It's like a million degrees... and there's no snow... (And then you get really depressed when your parents tell you there's no snow back home this year... You've just been telling everyone in your host country that there's ALWAYS snow for Christmas...)
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Rebecca L. Thomas -- 12/25/2006 7:28:06 PM
   
   When you get really annoyed that people always ask you if you're American (or German... or some other random, non-host country nationality...) Why couldn't they just mistake you for a Paraguayan for once?
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Roxane Rogers -- 12/27/2006 10:35:54 PM
   
   Wow that's good. I read the whole thing. I'll definetly be adding some when I get back. :)
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Sara Sayre -- 12/29/2006 5:32:46 PM
   
   When you haven't shaved in 4 months because you have to shower at a pool or a sink and you don't even mind :) Sara Sayre Latvia 06-07
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Rebecca L. Thomas -- 12/30/2006 11:22:17 AM
   
   When toilet paper becomes a luxury...
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   maya weeks -- 12/31/2006 7:57:35 AM
   
   when you get upset because you're writing a paper for college applications in the US and you can think of swedish words that fit and not the right english ones.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Rebecca L. Thomas -- 12/31/2006 4:24:31 PM
   
   When you can count the exact number of days until your life ends... or at least the life you have come to know and love... (That goes for pre-exchangers and current exchangers...)
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   laura m filkins -- 1/3/2007 11:03:49 PM
   
   you price things in terms of how many bananas you could buy with the money you cherish a warm shower and hot water you cherish a shower instead of a bucket you forget to wear a seat belt you notice how smooth american cars/roads ride you become defensive when people at home laugh at your pet chickens you still dream in two languages months after you get home you look up words in your host language because you can't remember the english word you talk about your host siblings like they were blood siblings and constantly confuse your friends at home who know you dont have any brothers You get made fun of for watching the spanish channel (the US needs more channels in other languages by the way) Ive been home for almost 8 months now and a couple of days ago i got my wisdom teeth out. When i woke up from the anesthetics i was completely confused and got extremely frustrate because i was trying to ask the dentist a question but could only think in Spanish. I started mumbling at him and finally gave up because it was too much work to think of english. Its really wierd how your second language will come back to you in the most random moments... for literally months. Laura, Panama YP 05-06
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Rebecca L. Thomas -- 1/17/2007 1:57:40 AM
   
   It kind of sucks when you have to go to the hospital for an X-ray on your first day back in the US, but at least you have a really cool reason ("motorcycle fell on foot in Paraguay").
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Lee DorseyTyler -- 1/17/2007 7:40:03 PM
   
   Lol, these are great! You know you're a will-be exchange student when... -Every picture you take goes through the mental '*Host country* worthy?' checklist. -You get frustrated with your friends when you have to explain what AFS is. You only talk about it 50 times a day... -Both of your bedrooms are already rented out for 2 days after you leave >.>;; -You watch movies in your host language. -You can't help but grin when people ask you what classes you'll be taking next year. -You pass by the kids in your school who speak *host language* and walk slower so you can hear the sound of it. -You've already scanned the things on your wall that are 'So going with me.' I'll be back when I think of more x3 -Lee Dorsey-Tyler China (hopefully) 07-08 YP
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Lauren M Pacho -- 1/17/2007 7:58:59 PM
   
   Not a minute in a day goes by without you thinking about next year in "x" country.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Krystina R Rillie -- 1/17/2007 8:42:59 PM
   
   This is so me! When you go shopping and think to yourself, "Will I be able to coordinate this with a lot of the other stuff I'm taking with me to____(insert host country.)" When you say to yourself, "Oh, I'll take these pair of pants because I'm going to lose weight in _______(insert host country) anyway." This is fun!!!! (*>.<*) Krys (>^-^)> Japan yp 07-08
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Mary Frances Simon -- 1/17/2007 8:48:32 PM
   
   lose weight??? more like gain it.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Krystina R Rillie -- 1/17/2007 9:15:18 PM
   
   well, Japan has a very healthy diet. In fact it's lightyears healthier than America's diet so that the reason I said that. I guess it kinda depends on what country you're going to. I do plan on losing weight in japan though. I won't have my mother forcing me to eat certain things! lol! Don't worry! I'll be sure not to go to far with it! Krys (*^-^*) japan yp 07-08
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Emily Hyndman -- 1/17/2007 11:27:12 PM
   
   haha, you come back to the US and go to college, and you know every international kid on campus, not to mention you're good friends with the military brats, and you have a hard time answering the question "so, where are you from?" XD
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Lee DorseyTyler -- 1/18/2007 10:42:43 AM
   
   When you sleep in class, you daydream about *insert host country*. When suddenly anyone who's from *host country* is your best friend. (Story: So my mother was talking to my landlord, who also rents out an apartment to this Chinese professor, they talked about it, and next thing I know, they're arranging dinner so he can talk about China. >>;;" Lee dorsey-Tyler China (hopefully) 07-08 YP
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Rebecca L. Thomas -- 1/18/2007 4:11:38 PM
   
   You have gained weight in your host country and don't understand why... (You're not eating ice cream for dessert after dinner every day and you ARE having salad with your lunch every day, so why the ... are you so much fatter?!) -Rebecca, Paraguay Feb. '06 - Jan. '07
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Rebecca L. Thomas -- 1/21/2007 6:13:56 PM
   
   You come back to the US and are completely clueless about all the movies, music, etc. that were new within the last year. (Or in my case, you were never all that up on pop culture, but now you have a good excuse! ;-) ) -Rebecca, Paraguay Feb. '06 - Jan. '07
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Roxane Rogers -- 1/21/2007 6:19:26 PM
   
   Me and my friend Sandy (who's going to France) realized last night we'll only have one chance to go to Prom (big deal right? ha ha not) because neither of us are planning on getting asked this year. lol. And i think I'll lose weight in Ecuador, I'm already skinny because I run a lot and don't eat THAT much, and I have a feeling I'm going to not eat much in Ecuador. (Like Caterpillars??? I REFUSE!)
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Rebecca L. Thomas -- 1/22/2007 3:18:57 PM
   
   Ha ha. You may be surprised... I always ate a lot in the US and was not much of an athlete, but I was still always skinny. I thought I was just the kind of person that doesn't really gain weight. But exchange weight gain works in mysterious ways... (Sorry, don't mean to sound mean or pessimistic... Other returnees may know what I'm talking about...) -Rebecca, Paraguay Feb. '06 - Jan. '07
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Ariana C Tuckey -- 1/22/2007 3:29:05 PM
   
   Oh god, exchange does wreak havoc on your weight. I was forever losing weight than gaining weight, than losing weight, even though I didn't change how I ate or exercised. People didn't know whether to refer to me as La flaca or la gorda.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Emily Hyndman -- 1/22/2007 8:35:29 PM
   
   Hmm, I atually didn't gain that much, because I was pretty sick at the beginning and wasn't eating, so I lost like, 2 kilos the first month. And then I started exercising a LOT more than here in the US, so I stayed about the same beginning to end. But it was up and down all the time. And I came back and lost a ton, and then gained it back again. (post exchange depression = me not eating)
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Roxane Rogers -- 1/23/2007 8:20:36 PM
   
   yikes Emily what were you really sick with? And has anyone besides me noticed there are very few boys on this board??
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Rebecca L. Thomas -- 2/19/2007 1:24:34 PM
   
   When you're a girl. Jaja... Okay, not necessarily... But the majority of exchange students are girls. Weird...
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Emily Hyndman -- 2/19/2007 3:01:20 PM
   
   more girls go on exchange, I think it's because we're more independent, honestly. (besides the whole bathroom thing, lol) What was I sick with? Just a really bad cold; lots of coughing, sore throat, stuffy head, etc.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Isabel Slettebak -- 2/19/2007 3:34:37 PM
   
   after you get back home, you try walking to the nearest market and after a couple of minutes remember that its 10 miles away
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   maya weeks -- 2/20/2007 1:32:38 PM
   
   you get told you dress like a *insert host nationality here*, you put ketchup on your pasta (uh... maybe just sweden?), you use your host language's slang, calling your parents/best friend/boyfriend on those rare occasions makes your month and gives you something to look forward to, you get through the day by thinking about the soonest upcoming trip you have, you can say dirty things in lots of languages, your closest friends (or at least some of them) are exchange students, you're half looking forward to and half dreading summer coming because it will be nice weather but also, you'll have to go home! maya, yp sweden now
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Elysia c Peitzman -- 2/20/2007 2:44:31 PM
   
   I second putting ketchup on your pasta!!!! Elysia YP 06/07 Latvia!!!!!
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Rebecca L. Thomas -- 2/20/2007 6:49:17 PM
   
   Since they only use two kinds of cheese in Paraguay and there's about a million varieties in every US supermarket, you would think you could find that one you need to cook a nice sopa paraguaya. But alas...
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Becca Heywood -- 2/21/2007 6:06:24 AM
   
   I third the putting ketchup on your pasta, well I don't cuz I find it absolutely disgusting, but it is good on pizza. And also definitely defining time by trips.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Roxane Rogers -- 2/21/2007 10:42:29 PM
   
   When you are a straight A student but you worry about how you are going to pass high school because you just found out you aren't getting ANY credit for your year abroad. I SWEAR i want to KILl someone right now.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Lauren M Pacho -- 2/21/2007 10:47:58 PM
   
   Join the club Roxane. I went through that with my school, but after an unreasonable amount of complaining to the higher-up officials of the school oard, I have things straightened out. You'll find a way to fix it.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Rebecca L. Thomas -- 2/22/2007 6:07:14 PM
   
   After you get back, you love listening to the music people listened to in your host country... even though you know it'll make you cry...
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Roxane Rogers -- 2/22/2007 9:23:47 PM
   
   I'm so pissed right now, I'm trying to figure out who in the school board I can write letters to, and threaten them!!!!!
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Rebecca L. Thomas -- 2/23/2007 11:44:35 PM
   
   Whenever you look at a globe, of course you have to find your host country. But then you realize how far it is from where you are now, and you feel like crying...
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Krystina R Rillie -- 2/24/2007 7:30:22 AM
   
   Did you talk to you Principal? At first, I handled everything through my guidance couselor and since my county has NEVER sent away an exchanger he didnt' know what to do with my credits. He told me that I was going to lose all of the credits for my SOPHOMORE and JUNIOR year!!! So I told him to talk to Mr. Cole (principal) and I would get my mom to write a letter explaining everything ( I typed it with her over my shoulder...) So the Principal handled everything and I will be able to keep all of my credits for my sophomore year and keep some from my junior year abroad as well. Just be persistent. You won't get what you want any other way. Krys (*^-^) Japan yp 07-08 23 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!>.

   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Rebecca L. Thomas -- 3/4/2007 4:30:11 PM
   
   When you have the national anthem of your host country as your cell phone ring tone. (Who else would pay to make their cell phone play the national anthem of Paraguay, AND be excited about it...?) -Rebecca, Paraguay Feb. '06 - Jan. '07
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Angela Varga -- 4/7/2007 12:15:40 AM
   
   ... about the whole Pepto Bismol thing.. please tell me I'm not gonna be barfing when I go to South America!!
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Rebecca L. Thomas -- 4/7/2007 1:55:45 PM
   
   Jaja... Don't worry, it's not like you'll be barfing all year! You might get sick, especially near the beginning, because your body won't be used to the different bacteria. I had diarrhea sometimes, but not like constantly. And I only got throwing-up-sick once, which might have happened once in a year in the US anyway. It's good to be prepared, but don't worry about it too much. -Rebecca, Paraguay Feb. '06 - Jan. '07
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Elysia c Peitzman -- 4/10/2007 9:18:13 AM
   
   I hope no one said these yet! You find yourself trying to translate some of these posts. A nightmare to you now is dreaming of your house in the states with you in it or people saying you cant go back to you host country. When you dont think the slabs of weird meat/fatty meat are disgusting anymore. When you say a word you forgot in your host language over and over again in hopes 1 person will understand you. When you think walking with your friends is "fun". When you drink tea at least 2 times a day. You are used to people starign at you and you are not afraid to stare back(anymore). When you get super excited when you hear someone you know is a native english speaker speaking to someone and it is sooo hard to not go up and talk to them. Yet you hate when people speak to YOU in english. When school isnt bad anymore becasue it gives you something to do. When you get candy for Christmas and are excited for it. When you spend at least 5 min. a day with a dictionary and looking at words and laughing when you compy them down in a "home vocab" notebook. (who knows when you'll have to say "pillage" or "you have come to your doom" in your host language?)Well thats all i got for the moment! Elysia YP Latvia06/07(I cant believe i have like only 80 more days in Latvia...it is scary)
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Elysia c Peitzman -- 4/10/2007 9:21:04 AM
   
   Sorry...compy=copy! And Seriously once i was talking with my parents and they asked what i ate for dinner and i couldnt think of the word "caviar" so i kept saying "ikra" over and over again....they were sooo confused! Elysia YP Latvia06/07
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   sally bllom -- 4/29/2007 5:07:35 AM
   
   I have been on four AFS programs(two to Ghana, one to Thailand and one to Paraguay) so I have a lot. I live on my own in an apartment so some of these might differ... *when you have forgotten how to take care of your apartment and feed yourself when you go back home because you had house help. *When the first think you want to do when you get home is a hair cut because you didn't want to attempt a hair cut in ghana so it hasn't been cut for 6 months *you have strange food obsessions for the first few months after your back and gain a lot of weight just because you have food(Ghana) *you wrap your hair in cloth *You still get excited at buying toilet paper and knwoing you can use as much as you want without your host mom yelling at you(Ghana) *you are constantly shopping for care packages and spend way too much money on shipping packages all over the world *when you go back to Paraguay and literally bring gifts for everyone and thier DOG(frisbees) *When your parents only know your host parents by Mama and Papa or Mmaa and Dada *When you still voulenteer for AFS(and its sucked you in) several years later because its the only chance to talk about your life in other countries without rude responses. *when you have conversations with yourself in your host country language *when your cat responds to abajo but not down. *when your cuborads have things like fufu powder, guarana mix,palm oil and lots of ginger *When you wear a hoodie that says I heart Paraguay in hot pink letters. Then people ask if you have been to Paraguay and you get some funny looks when you say "four times" *When your walls are covered with Thai silk and embroidry, Ghanaian masks and art work, Paraguayan sobreros and art and it looks like an international market place. *you stay up way to late on MSN with friends from Paraguay, Germany, Denmark, Thailand and Ghana and frequently have conversations going in three differnt languages. *when you have a storng desire to respect your elders and not look them in the eye and feel really guilty when you don't greet(Ghana) * you read newspapers online from three differnt countries and search yahoo news every night for news as well. (USA, ghana and paraguay sometimes Thailand) *you don't get annoyed by people not knowing English *you have some funky cloths *you can't wait to go home and not be called Obrouni or white man by everyone and not have babies running away in tears when they see you and basically can feel human again *you can't wait to drive again *you dream about your first meal *You spend your time day dreaming about food and what you would buy in they had it with your friends (Ghana) *you drink Mate and carry around your thermo complete with the leather wrap from Paraguay and your Guapa and Bombillio on campus *You get excited when you find anything Dulce De Leche flavored in the US *open sewer systems don't bother you *your host sister can pee standing up just like a guy, and does, anywhere and every where without warning *you are asked for money a coupe times a day and are asked to be someones wife several times a day(Ghana) *you really miss telling people you are married to Harry Potter or Jesus or making up elabroate stories of how all the white people you are realted. *you are someones mother because you are fatter then her(Ghana) *you get REALLY excited when you see a white person on TV(ghana) *You get really mad cravings for pizza while watching home alone *You have become an expert text messager and know what flash means *you still get flashed at 3AM *you know how to insult people in several languages and frequently do. You also know how to inslut people in English that would not be considered an insult in america such as "the test was cheap" *you have to watch TV with the subtiltes on....when you get back...from an "english is our official language country" because they speak to fast. *even with subtitles malcom in the middle is too fast in Paraugay *When you see other forigners you assume you know more then them *One time you were in a tro-tro and thought for sure you were going to die when a heard of cows crossed the road and you thought "Poor mom won't know what a tro-tro is" and you don't tell her the story untill you have been home a year *One time a group of drunk men grabbed your hand in the market and you e-mailed home about and now every email and card has a "we know you are being safe but be careful we worry about you" lecture *market day was Tuesday and that was the big day of the whole week that everyone looked forward to *you know how to hand wash cloths and have the scars to prove it *you built up arm muscles from hang drying cloths *you still get excited about using your washing machine and dryer *you can look at african americans and tell if they origionally came from Ghana or genearlly what region of Africa they came from *you have been called White Man when you are actually a White Woman *you find that German is actually easier then Spanish in many ways *Guarani is also easier then Spanish...as is Twi. Okay Spanish is not easy the way everyone makes it out to be "just like English" *your glad no one goes through your trash. you carry around things you don't want people to see in a plastic bag untill you get to a trash can(Ghana) *you have been back for over a year but still don't hand things to people with your left hand *you have a Hijab *you h ave had a conversation entirly of hand gestures and can convey complex ideas without words *you still eat with your hands because its actually more comfortable okay well I could go on forever.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Meghan R Shruck -- 5/15/2007 1:40:13 PM
   
   Wow, I didn't know my host would get so big. When you eat 3 more meals than usual a day. When you have to speak English to prove you're American. When you drool over car rides. When you've learned to not be too afraid when having to wear underwear 2 days in a row. When you've mastered the art of bringing nothing but a contact lense case and a hair brush for overnight stays. You've milked a cow! When people stare at you strangely as you sit on the ground outside. When you try to text message a friend in a different language, or try anyway, only to get a reply saying "Try that in English please." so they know what you said. When nothing you cook turns out like it would back home. When you've gotten used to not using toilet paper, if it's possible to get used to that(For those who have not been on exchange yet and are saying EWW! right now, just you wait.) When you've mastered the art of stepping over passed out drunks in the flat corridors. Hmmm...I know there's more.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Elysia c Peitzman -- 5/15/2007 3:05:09 PM
   
   When drunk people dont scare you anymore. When you forget english words and ask your host sister how to spell something! I second the underwear thing! When you make a list of food you will have your mom and/or dad make when you return. When you are used to people randomly saying something to you and are able to make them think you understand EVERYTHING you said. When you go to the grocery store for fun. When you drink tes at least 2 times a day. When you practice questions before asking them outloud to make sure it is grammatically correct! When numbers in the middle of words(like in texts or somehting) is normal and How you think "but it is sooo not compilicated" and people look at you like you are insane. When you can spend at least 30 min. with just you and a dictionary and actually have fun. When you wish some words in english were a certain word in you host language becasue your host languages word is easier to say(example: right now= si4as in Russian)....when you can eat just plain fat and NOT think it is that disgusting....it is actually pretty tasty! When you are used to picking up after your younger sibling and are thankful for your older siblings (if your the youngest like me) When you cant wait to use a dryer. When you are planning on putting the iron in YOUR room. When you are used to ironing your clothes! Thats all I got for now! Elysia YP LAtvia 06/07
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Rebecca L. Thomas -- 5/15/2007 5:33:02 PM
   
   "When you've gotten used to not using toilet paper, if it's possible to get used to that(For those who have not been on exchange yet and are saying EWW! right now, just you wait.)" Jaja... I totally second that! -Rebecca, Paraguay Feb. '06 - Jan. '07
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Kayla Mallery M Mallery -- 9/19/2007 7:16:28 PM
   
   Those are really funny. Have you been an exchange student? If so, where?
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Emily Hyndman -- 10/15/2007 11:01:03 PM
   
   after coming home: when you can't speak english the way you did before (that great vocab? yeah...what happened to that? strange grammar, wonder where that came from...) when stupid little things make you so incredibly homesick. when things just sound better in "insert host language". when you miss the subway/metro/U bahn/whatever you had and busses and trams and crazy public transportation. When you make friends with all the foreigners at college (and call it university sometimes instead of college)
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Lauren M Pacho -- 10/18/2007 10:44:30 AM
   
   When potatoes and hot dogs on Pizza isn't weird anymore.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Maria Pezza -- 10/18/2007 3:04:32 PM
   
   You begin speaking English with the accent of your host country, because that's the only way you've heard it for the past 5 months/year of your life!
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Melissa Tetzner -- 10/28/2007 4:25:49 PM
   
   omg the same thing happened to me like my first two months here in chile. i KNEW the conversation had to have been in spanish, but my brain would record them as in english... so weird.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Melissa Tetzner -- 10/28/2007 4:40:12 PM
   
   oh i got one,, people always ask you why you write jajajaja or jaojaoajoa instead of hahahahaha
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Sarah Mears -- 5/9/2008 2:36:36 PM
   
   When you have to put SALDO on your cell phone. When it's not weird to get a beer at 8 in the morning on a schoolday. xDDD. When taking the bus what's something fun and new at first. When you talk to your parents at home, and have trouble talking and explaining. You almost forgot that other sodas besides aquarius and coke existed.. Hahah.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Rebecca L. Thomas -- 5/10/2008 1:02:57 PM
   
   When all your friends borrow your cell phone and use up your saldo... and read all your personal text messages! -Rebecca, Paraguay, Feb. '06 - Jan '07
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Emily Hyndman -- 5/11/2008 2:00:26 AM
   
   when you get super excited to meet someone from another country or who has also done exchange? When you get frustrated because words just sound better in your "other" language...
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Sarah Mears -- 5/14/2008 2:38:24 PM
   
   This was probably already said, but. Watcing the Simpson TWENTY FOUR / SEVEN.
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Nicholas D Sanchez -- 5/17/2008 3:52:26 AM
   
   when you exclusively watch films from your host country no matter how good or bad they are because your looking out for the regions they were filmed XDDDD and when you consider it "american" that your native friends DONT put A TON of sugar in their coffee cuz they "like it black"...UGHH!
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Mikky Wykson -- 5/23/2008 2:19:54 PM
   
   Anyone have anything new?? :)
   
   Re: You know you're an exchange student when...
   Ella Youtsey -- 5/23/2008 10:12:50 PM
   
   DUDE! You totally just basically explained me! I am the carbon copy of that it is so not funny. hahahaha, nice work capturing what I am feeling!

3. • CommentAuthorCarlyh
   • CommentTimeSep 30th 2009

    

   guilty as charged for the so you want to be an exchange student ones. I haven't even closed any of the tabs on my internet since like three weeks ago, I just close my laptop and they are there for me the next day.... haha

4. • CommentAuthorCarlyh
   • CommentTimeSep 30th 2009

    

   Also... you know you want to be an exchange student when you are doing a boring chore like the dishes and pretend you are in "x host country" to make it interesting. it works :):):)

5. • CommentAuthorhailey514
   • CommentTimeFeb 6th 2010

    

   Hahaha oh my goodness! I want to go to Norway and I am totally counting on all of these happening to me! And even though I'm not planning on my exchange for being another year and a half I am already all of the "future exchange student" ones.

6. • CommentAuthorJoshC
   • CommentTimeApr 24th 2010

    

   Haha, wow! Im planning on going in '11-'12 but im already like all the "future exchange student" ones. I'll add another:

   If you've used up nearly an entire cartridge of ink to print out things on your "x" county to read when you're away from a computer.

7. • CommentAuthorhollybluwood
   • CommentTimeMay 16th 2010

    
   You know you're a future exchange student when even finals don't seem important anymore... ;D