By Alexandra Couraud
The quest for adventure sparked my desire to travel. Adventure ignited my passion to live abroad and it inspired me to become an exchange student. Living in Brazil my junior year, I experienced adventure, adversity and awakening. I dealt with hardships and homesickness. I overcame loss and tragedy. But most importantly, I learned how to appreciate life.
The fall of 2011, I left my friends and family in Silverton to fly 6,381 miles to a Brazilian town called Tres Lagoas where I brought a new perspective to the local high school, as well as learning some things of my own. My perspective was broadened and shaped until I was ready to fly back home this spring and rejoin my Silverton High senior classmates.
Of the many experiences that molded me, Thanksgiving morning might have had the biggest affect. I remember waking up expecting to smell turkey roasting in the oven. Instead, I felt homesick when I smelled rice and beans cooking in the broiler. My distress deepened and tears came to my eyes when I entered the kitchen and did not see my loud-mouthed uncle or my aunt and father playfully arguing about who made better stuffing. I was standing in the doorway sobbing and missing my family. My host mom shuffled into the kitchen and frowned when she saw me crying. I told her I was desperately homesick because it was Thanksgiving and I would not be celebrating with my family.
She straightened up and put her hand on my shoulder told me, “You cannot live there, you are here now, and you should enjoy it while you can.”
Her words struck me with force.
How could I be so sad right now when I had a lifetime of Thanksgivings to celebrate in America but only this one in Brazil. I had to live in the moment and to enjoy what I had. So, along with my host mom, I decided to cook a turkey dinner for my new family. In the end I learned that the most important thing about Thanksgiving, and life in general, is to be thankful for where we are, what we have, and whom we are with because we never know how long we have with them in our lives.
Reflecting on my experience of Thanksgiving away from home, I wondered what the holiday season is like for exchange students who come to America. I interviewed two of the exchange students at Silverton High School – Alex Carlier of Belgium and Marcos Ramos of Brazil. Each had similar viewpoints on what an American Thanksgiving would be like. When asked, the boys each said that they expected food. A lot of food. And while they are correct that Thanksgiving is a day known for eating, I hope that they truly get to experience and understand the warmth and togetherness of the holiday. I hope that along with their full stomachs they gain a little perspective on thankfulness.
When thinking about thanks, I also revel in the day that I got the phone call of acceptance from the Silverton Rotary Youth Exchange Program. I remember dancing around the living room ready to hop on a plane that moment. Along with excitement I felt thankful; thankful to my parents for letting me participate; thankful to Silverton Rotary for giving me the opportunity, and thankful to myself for trying and succeeding. Now that I am back I want to show my thanks, so as part of my senior project I have decided to mentor the next outbound student from Silverton High School. Her name is Dani Hendriksen and I can imagine how thankful she is to be given the opportunity to live abroad.
During our sessions I will tell her to be brave and strong during the hard times and I will tell her to laugh and love the good ones.
Living abroad is an adventure. It is an emotional roller coaster. The exchange process, whether the beginning or the end, is a constant learning experience. It is a journey that twists and turns with love and hope and ultimately it is an adventure that changes lives. I am thankful for how being a foreign exchange student has changed me and given me insight on who I am and the world around me.
