Above photo: With my friend Elena, my Grandma, and my host mom during an IEW presentation – how beautiful they all look!

By Famia Fiza (YES 2018 - 2019, Bangladesh, hosted by Aspect in Phoenix, AZ)

Traveling to different countries, meeting new people, exposing myself to different cultures and having the chance to develop an international bond has always been something that I loved doing. My experience so far has been nothing less than living my dream. I have already fallen in love with the sunrises and sunsets of my host state, Arizona.

How shall I introduce my host family? The coolest people? The best people? People that I feel blessed to have by my side? I will just say, they are my second family after my own family in Bangladesh. My sweet little family consists of my mom Anna and my 8-year-old sister, Lily, our two bunnies and our little cute poodle. The way my host mom and sister has embraced me and my culture, makes me so happy! I love going out with them, whether to grab frozen yogurt on a lazy evening or driving two hours up to Sedona, it’s always worth it! I love watching movies with them, having karaoke nights, going to Church on Sundays, doing crafts, baking bread etc. We always have both American and Bengali dishes on our dinner table.

I have already made thousands of beautiful memories with my host family. Christmas was awesome! Last weekend we went to an American Rodeo, it was the best hangout ever! We watched the cowboys riding bulls while it rained, we all sang the legendary Sweet Caroline together while stuffing our mouth with cheese fries and chicken tenders. It got really chilly at the city of Anthem near Phoenix that night, however my host family and I loved driving back home while it rained and having our own karaoke party in the car. It was as if we were exchanging pieces of ourselves only to turn ourselves into a more open minded and positive human being!

There are times when my heart cries for my motherland and my family, homesickness does hit sometimes, but a goodnight kiss from my sister, a hug from my mom or feeling the cool winter breeze as the moon embraces me with its light, the times always get better and makes me stronger. 

Thank you, Arizona, for hosting me and treating me like your own! I am sure I will leave the country with a bag full of memories and only then I will tell the world, that I am coming home!