Rollercoaster Months

Jasmine Exa Kamilia (INA YES to USA YP 19–20)

Three months ago, on August 2019, my life changed. These 3 months full of rollercoaster experiences. How come? Well, as a teenager and high-school student, I choose to leave my comfortable life in Indonesia and go to the other part of the world without friends and family. I have to start my life all over again. I have to build my life from zero, make new friends, and the hardest one is to be part of someone’s family. Sometimes, I wonder, why am I here? I could just continue my last year of high school in Indonesia and I will graduate together with my beloved friends. Just one more step, I will be in university. But, I did not. I turn away from the normal way and choose the challenging one, to become an exchange student.

5–7 August was amazing. I was on my way to United States of America with other 59 students. We stayed in Hilton Hotel, Washington DC for International Orientation. It was easy and fun. I still with my group of friends and they also help me to make friends with students from other country. I thought it was what I will face through the 10 months. But I was wrong. On 8 August, the day when I took planes to Sacramento, California, I realized my journey has just started. My last plane, I was the only Indonesian. For hours I was waiting in the Dallas Airport, I cried. I have never feel that lonely before. I can’t believe I have to be the only Indonesian for the next 10 months. I still 16 at that time, and I just know, this is what it called as “Going out of comfort zone”.

My first week in California was hectic. Even if I was still jet-lag, my host family took me to several places and introduce me to their relatives and friends. It was an adaptation week. The second week, I have already gone to school. I went to Marysville High School, a pretty big school that has several buildings and pretty far to each other. I was shocked about how short the transition time and how hectic the school was. I didn’t get the priviledge to be introduced as Exchange Student so I have to introduce myself. Gladly, I have friends in my second day. They invited me to eat lunch together. It was hard to follow the conversation but I force myself to just talk and involve with anything. Now, we already close to each other and I even have ever come to one of my friends’s house.

At school, I take 6 subjects. There are Weight Training, American Literature, Multimedia, Physics, Pre-Calculus, and US History. The most tiring subject is Weight Training, the subject that I actually didn’t take. In my first month, I always try my best to talk to the counselor so I can change that class. In Indonesia, I only do light exercise and suddenly in USA I have to lift weight almost everyday. Barbell, Dumbbell, and any other equipments have already been my everyday ‘breakfast’. But I’m glad that my counselor didn’t let me to change. Because, It is actually an amazing experience that I have never had before. I was the only Hijabi Girl in the Gym and do benching, sit-up with 25 pounds plate, pull-ups, and so many other exercises.

I like how American School give so much space for creativity. Also, they give students chance to do something more. For example, my History teacher give extra credit assignment to make a song about 27 Amendments of The Constitution while we also have to make a summary book with pictures in it as the compulsory work. It took almost one week for the book. Lots of my friends gave up about the extra credit assignment. But, in the last night of the deadline, I complete my book so I started to make lyrics. I recorded my voice at 5 am in the morning before I go to school and edit it with the background music. Turns out, I was the only students from all of my teacher’s class who make the song. He was super happy and proud that he showed all his students my work. If my teacher did not give that assignment, I might never know that I can make song with only one night. Also, in Multimedia class, I got projects to make graphic videos for school advertisement and informations. I did Can Food Drive, SAT and ACT, and others. I also edit videos for school clubs and organizations. I got lots of compliment from people that watch my videos. Now, my teacher give me space to work by myself and I can make my own idea and ask someone to work for me if I need any voice-over or texts. She even ask me to teach them how to make my video.

The system of moving class give me chance to meet more people. I get to expand my circle of friends with so many types of person. I also watched my first Football Game with one of my friend that I met in math class. She was super excited to show me how to cheer on the bench and sing out loud. I got my face painted and hold pom-pom in my hand. It was super fun. School is where my times mostly spent. But this place also give me super exciting ‘rollercoaster’ experience.

As a hijabi girl in a small town, I got lots of attentions. I got lots of stares and questions. Also, some people see me prayed at school and they’re all curious about it. Is it bad? Not really. Turns out, people’s curiosity led me to get more friends. Lots of people interested in my religion and my belief. I got lots of compliment about my hijab and it makes me feel accepted.

The system of moving class give me chance to meet more people. I get to expand my circle of friends with so many types of person. I also watched my first Football Game with one of my friend that I met in math class. She was super excited to show me how to cheer on the bench and sing out loud. I got my face painted and hold pom-pom in my hand. It was super fun. School is where my times mostly spent. But this place also give me super exciting ‘rollercoaster’ experience.

As a hijabi girl in a small town, I got lots of attentions. I got lots of stares and questions. Also, some people see me prayed at school and they’re all curious about it. Is it bad? Not really. Turns out, people’s curiosity led me to get more friends. Lots of people interested in my religion and my belief. I got lots of compliment about my hijab and it makes me feel accepted.

One of the priviledge that I got as an exchange students is to have friends all over the world. Once in a month, my Placement Organization usually has an event for the students. Sometimes we also do volunteering together. It was always interesting since lots of nationality and cultures gathered in one place. On of my favorite event was when we went to Santa Cruz and sleep in a tent beside the sea. It was also the only event that allow me to meet my Indonesian friend after a long time. It was such a refreshment.

These 3 months full of rollercoaster experiences. But I’m glad I still survive and took the chances. I have been through homesickness, family problems, high school drama, and many other obstacles, But at the end, it makes me grow and be a better person.