May 31 2009 / Sharing with my American Family
by Deniz Kemahli, Turkey 08-09
hosted in Bayside, CA
I am Deniz Kemahli, and I am from Turkey. I received a full scholarship from the U.S.A. State Department to be an exchange student. I am spending one year in Humboldt County, California. My country’s name is Turkey, which is apparently a bird name in America!
One of my outstanding experiences happened to be in my host family’s backyard, where we have giant redwood trees. I climbed a 150-feet redwood with my 70 year-old dear host father, which was amazing. When the wind blows, the tree dances back and forth carrying my body, I feel the emptiness of my existence, and just have a happy feeling like I am flying. In my country I always climb little olive trees, but I never felt anything like being up 150 feet in a redwood tree before.
I really appreciate this scholarship and I am very grateful for this marvelous year, and I hope that more and more people will host exchange students in the year to come.
