Lessons Learned

Before I began my journey in this crazy new country, I remember everyone telling me how I will come back a new and improved version of me. There were definitely things I was expecting to learn while on my exchange, for example, the language of my country. I also knew I would be making new friends and probably pick up some new habits from the culture surrounding me every day for a whole year. However, there are definitely 5 things I have learned during my exchange that stand out for me.

1. How to speak to strangers

Okay, so this first topic covers a little more than just how to ask a stranger for help when you aren't sure which bus stop you should be getting off at. Although, I have definitely improved in this too. Exchange has taught me that it is okay to talk to people we might not know, and to be open and accepting of their different backgrounds. Learning about how different someone is from you can be super exciting, and can help you change your persepctive on different cultures, governments, religions or anything. I have made many friends by starting up a conversation with someone who was initially a complete stranger, and learned new things from them. Everyone has a story that has made them the person they are today, and it is definitely worth listening to. Appreciate differences and accept it with open arms!

2. Becoming that little more picky

Back in Australia, I probably let things slide which really shouldn't have. When there was an issue between friends, I often just skipped straight to forgive, forget and move on. I hated discussing problems because I might further upset the person, and as a people pleaser, that was NOT okay. However, during my exchange I have learnt when I need to stand up for myself, and when a person is not someone I should include in my circle of friends. I think it can be very scary to push a friend away because you don't want to cause further issues, but sometimes you are just better off without them. Unfortunately this means saying good bye to some people in our lives, and other times it helps the friend to change their bad ways and truly become a friend for life. Either way, it ends up with you being better off.

3. To just try it

Someone asked you to join them in a marathon? Try it. Your best friend just offered for you to try their new sausage flavoured cookie? Try it. Yeah, maybe you won't be able to run the whole distance, or quite finish that cookie, but at least you tried. Who knows, maybe it will turn out to be your secret talent or favourite snack. If someone asked me to prepare a speech in Swedish at the start of this year, I would have laughed at them. Now, I'm completing most of my schoolwork in Swedish, and actually getting ready to perform two speeches just next week! Wish me luck. 

Warning: This does not mean you should jump off a cliff with no harness if your friend asks you to. Stay safe!

4. Experiences are so much greater than stuff

I cam to Sweden with 20kg of things. Of course, this seems like a catastrophy to a teenage girl who now only has a week worth of clothing she now has to recycle through for a whole year. Now, I'm not crazy about fashion, but I didn't look forward to the idea of coming to a free-dress school with the same clothes on all the time. Of course, I did buy new clothes on my arrival, and now have a healthy set of clothes to keep me going without feeling like I wore the same outfit yesterday. However, I never felt quite satisfied when I bought a new top or shoes or jewelery. (Well, I do love my sapmi bracelets...) I've realised true satisfaction comes from the experiences though. If anyone offered me a week abroad or a full wardrobe update, I know which one I would take!

5. Good byes are the hardest

Comg closer and closer to the end of my exchange, I can't imagine saying goodbye to some of the people I have met during this year. Already I have had to say goodbye to some exchange students, and it isn't fun. Being on exchange has torn my world into two. There will always be parts that I want to bring with me from both places, but I guess we can't have everything. I have grown and become the new person everyone told me I would become, and to leave the country that tought me so much is going to be heartbreaking. I've learned to appreciate what you have in the moment, because you don't know how long it will last for. You don't know what you got till you let it go.

So these are the 5 main things I have learned during my exchange. Going abroad for a year really opens you up and you are pushed into new things that you could never imagine. Being overseas is like becoming a child again, where everything is new and exciting, and you are learning something new every day.