Life in 3 Months: The Perfect Exchange Journey Does Exist

Arsyaq Sajidurrahman — INA AFS to TUR 2023

September 7th, 2023. After all the effort and wait that has been done, I finally got to leave my home country to chase my teenage dream of becoming an exchange student in Turkiye. From the moment I woke up that day, a mix of excitement and nervousness filled me. Little did I know, this journey would shape my life in a big way.

Never in my wildest dreams, did I imagine my exchange journey would turn out so flawlessly, at least in my opinion. It all started in the most thrilling way imaginable. Let’s start with my host family, who were beyond amazing! From the moment I stepped my feet into their home, I was covered in the warmest of welcomes. I didn’t just feel accepted but also quickly adapted. Our bond grew deeper faster than I could’ve ever predicted.

Then there was my first day of school, it was so unexpectedly smooth! I never thought the students there would take such a keen interest in an exchange student like me. As soon as I entered the class, they flocked to me, asking questions and making me feel like part of the gang instantly. They’re honestly the best! And here’s the thing, despite my absolute cluelessness about Turkish, my friends and even the teachers went out of their way to make me feel included.

Of course, no journey is without its hiccups. I faced some challenges that brought me down, but hey, that’s all part of the experience, right? Those tough times taught me so much. I owe my survival through those moments to the unwavering support of my host family, especially my host mom, and my incredible friends, they’re my true rock-solid support system.

But when the time came to bid farewell to my host country, I was an emotional wreck and cried all night. I never imagined I’d be so attached that leaving would be this hard. I found myself wishing I could turn back time and chose the year-long program, so I could have a longer time with my host family and friends. The thought of not being able to return to this amazing place in the future tore at my heartstrings. (p.s. Surprisingly, my host family bought me a return ticket and I am going backto my host country 3 weeks after I left).