By Igor S. (YES 2019-2020, North Macedonia, hosted by Greenheart Exchange in Northwood, NH)

I have just started my exchange year; however, I have already experienced a thousand different things and feelings. I was really nervous and excited about coming to the United States of America and to the beautiful state of New Hampshire. I thought I was prepared for everything, but I did not imagine that I would end up being homecoming king!

When I arrived at the airport in Manchester, New Hampshire, I met my host family, and we both screamed out of happiness. When we arrived home, I was beyond surprised by the beauty of Northwood and New Hampshire. I came with many different expectations, concerns, and feelings, but when I met my host family for the first time, I just knew that we would get along really well.

I think that I am the first exchange student ever who got injured on his second day of his exchange year. Yes, I did that. I twisted my ankle, and it was so painful. I had to see a doctor, but thankfully, nothing was broken. My host family was so caring, and they helped me a lot. It was my first visit to an American urgent care and my first x-ray ever. Even though I was in pain, everything went well – and now, I will have a really interesting story to tell about the first days of my exchange year. Through this experience, too, I had so much fun with my host family, and I realized just how caring they are.

Since starting my exchange, I have tried more than 50 new things that I have never done before. On Labor Day, we went to the lake, and I tried tubing, which was really fun and amazing experience; however, that is not even the most exciting part.

My first day of school was on September 4^th. Because I missed about two weeks of school, I had to work hard in order to catch up what I missed. When I stepped into my host school, Coe-Brown Northwood Academy, everyone seemed to know about me, and they were so friendly, which helped me to easily make friends. I heard everyone talking about homecoming, but I did not imagine what was going to happen next.

Homecoming took place on Friday and Saturday of my second week of school, and I was invited to the dance. I was informed that I would need to wear a tie and a lot of other amazing American stuff. At the dance, everyone danced with me and talked about voting for the king and queen of homecoming. Having seen more than 20 American high school movies in which they have prom or homecoming where they vote for a king and a queen, I was really excited, but I was not really sure how to vote or for who. People approached me and told me that they voted for me, which I was so happy to hear, but I did not expect I would win.

Then, at 9:30pm the boy who was in charge of the dance announced my name and said that I had won the homecoming crown and that 100% of the votes were for me. I could not believe what I heard. That was one of the best and most emotional moments of my life. More than 100 kids from the school had voted for me even though I had only been in school for two weeks. I danced with the homecoming queen, and it was so emotional and beautiful. I could not wait to share my homecoming story with everyone.

I was so happy because not only had I wanted to attend an American high school dance, but I realized something else: the other kids and entire school showed me how accepting they are and that they have an interest in new cultures and diversity.

I am so happy I am doing this!