Throughout my entire exchange year I will live with three different families. Rotary claims that this is so I can have three different perspectives of Taiwan. I think the real reason is so one family doesn't have to put up with me for an entire year. My first host family is incredible, I owe them so much. They took great care of me. Including caring for me while I was sick, and the greater challenge of feeding me everyday. Just when I thought I had it down. When I was completely comfortable. When their house truly became home. When I felt like I fit in, is when I changed host families. The host home is not merely a hotel, and exchange students aren't guests, they are family members. As a member of the family I took care of household chores, and even cooked.
After school on Thursday evening I was greeted by my host mother who told me I'm moving host families that night. All thoughts of turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, squash, and pumpkin pie left my mind. Thanksgiving was not on the agenda or in my brain. With speed I started throwing all my belongings into suitcases and bags. Amazingly everything was packaged and placed in my host fathers car. After a heart felt goodbye with my host mother I jumped into the vehicle and was sped away by my host father. Upon our arrival I was greeted by my new host mother who helped drag my luggage up to the sixth floor, my new home. After I set my belongings down I had a tour of the house then a walk around outside to see the nearest MRT station and the local park. Much to my surprise and utter delight I discovered that there is a night market within walking distance of my new home. I hit the sack soon after, completely exhausted and fell asleep without the aid of tryptophan.
Friday afternoon was a trip to the theatre. My good friend Dan the Man helped us get tickets with the aid of his host parents. The selected film was Harry Potter and it turned out great. Before going into the theatre Dan's host parents handed me a hot-dog with ketchup and mustard. They said "American food" and before I could say I was full I had a hot-dog in hand. The movie itself was in English with Chinese subtitles. On the MRT ride home we discussed the irony that I live closer to Dan now than I did when we both lived in New York. No MRT ride would be complete without bumping into other exchange students and it happened twice. I was fortunate it happened because I probably would have taken a wrong turn on the MRT to my new home.
Although I "missed" Thanksgiving it doesn't mean it didn't cross my mind. Although I didn't gorge on turkey, I have a full stomach every day and for that I'm thankful. I didn't sit at around a table and say thanks for the roof over our heads, but I consider myself lucky to have a bed and a roof no matter where I've gone. I missed spending time with all of my family and friends, but I'm thankful for my first host family for being so great to me, my second host family who opened up their house, all of my friends here who make all the difference, and all of my family and friends back in the United States who support me and made this adventure possible. This year I'm thankful for this amazing opportunity to go on an exchange to the other-side of the world, even if it means skipping Thanksgiving. I think the very absence of the holiday made me appreciate it's value even more.
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