Wow it's been a while...

Sorry that I haven't posted in a while. I haven't had too much to talk about. Recently I applied for college, and for the application, I was unsurprisingly asked to write an admissions essay. The essay written was on my year here so far, and personally I think it'd do well as a  blog post too. So here yah go, my admissions essay:

Max Hoeschele

Admissions essay- topic: Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

            There are many things people can do after high school. One can attend an institution of higher learning in hopes of improving one’s mind and the chances for a higher income in the future. One can jump head-first into the increasingly demanding work force of the world. Or one can do nothing at all and hope things work out. As for myself, I decided to embrace a long-held dream of mine: to see the world, and experience another culture, before venturing into the danger-laden forest of real life. That’s why I applied for the Rotary International Youth Exchange program, a year-long exchange program where students find themselves living with multiple families in a new culture in a foreign country with countless learning experiences awaiting them. I am currently one of those lucky students chosen for this amazing experience. Living in a foreign country comes with many innate dilemmas, the new culture and customs can throw someone off simply by existing. For me, these dilemmas and others have begun to be a very influential and maturing experience for me. I am still only two months into my ten month venture here, but many of the greatest difficulties are dealt with within that short time span, and dealing with them all at once can really take a number on someone who is unprepared and uncommitted. They have proved to be a learning experience for me, however. 

           As my experience continues, so do the many tribulations that come with being in another country.  For example, here in France, the general social standard for clothing is much higher. Being an American teenager, I initially found this to be very difficult to assimilate into; leaving the house wearing whatever it is you threw on in the morning just isn’t accepted here like it is in the States. Another difference is the food, which although influenced some by western culture these days, (i.e.: McDonald’s, and Subway) is vastly different, much of the food they eat here just isn’t the same. The food is one thing, but eating it is another subject completely: in fact, there are many rules that you should follow lest you accidentally disrespect someone. Some examples include, always serving others before yourself; don’t place your hands under the table; always make eye contact during ‘cheers’; and always know how to slice the cheese correctly.

 These among many other subtleties, convened rapidly during my first few months here, accumulating into a vast amount of differences which, frankly, are nigh impossible to deal with all at the same time. They have a name for this: it’s called culture shock. This is very real, and very influencing. These differences, combined with the struggle of learning a new language surmount to an immense task that can either make or break someone’s year abroad.

In truth, this experience is proving to be very difficult for me, but I can see the long-term benefits from continuing my adventure here. I can already begin to see the changes this experience are having on me. For one, I am more culturally aware and accepting as a person than I once was. Living here in France, there are many things that many Americans would be shocked to discover (such as only caramel corn in movie theaters *gasp!*); but part of learning about a new culture is accepting those differences and respecting them, regardless of whether or not you agree with them.

Another difference I’m beginning to notice in myself is that my patience is increasing, as is my ability to learn from my own mistakes. This, I assume, comes from struggling with the new language, among other things. It is, of course, very difficult to speak a language that’s not native to your own tongue -- and I made and continue to make many mistakes while conversing with my slowly growing social circle. I must be patient enough to use the language that I know to get my point across, rather than trying to say what I don’t have the vocabulary for. This has shaped my language learning abilities as well as my overall personality and will continue to do so in the future.

All of these aspects of living abroad combine to form what I believe will be a very maturing experience that will change who I am for the better, especially as I transition into college after this year is completed.

There have been many life-changing experiences and struggles in my life, but this one, by far, tops them all. I’m not even close to being done with my adventure here in France, and I’m sure that as time progresses there will be many more learning experiences that will help shape me into a person who is more than ready to brave the struggles and storms of the world we live in. And although it may be difficult, I know I have the drive to continue and conquer.