By Talha Ehsan (YES 2018-2019, Pakistan, hosted by Ayusa in Vidor, TX)

I started my exchange year with a lot of goals in mind. I knew I wanted to join a lot of clubs...and I did! I joined Interact Club, BBAD Drug Free Club, History Club, Maths Club, and Astronomy Club and am an active member in each. My biggest goal, however, was to join my school’s choir. Once I joined the choir, I was performing well so the choir director suggested I audition for the All Region Choir which includes members from high schools throughout the region. I made it into the All Region Choir! I sang Pakistani songs for my solo at my high school choir concert. I really loved all the support from the Americans and was happy they enjoyed the show. 

The Homecoming Parade is one of the biggest events of Vidor High School (VHS), in which a homecoming sweetheart and beau are selected. I was selected as a beau to ride in the parade and I represented the VHS History Club during the parade. It was really a new experience that I can never forget.

During my exchange year, I lost one of my closest friends from my home country. It was a very very hard time for me; but, my amazing host family helped me to recover. They gave me a surprise in which they invited all the people I know and we did a balloon release there were my messages were on the balloons. I really love my host family they are always supportive and loving and they show support at all of my concerts.

IEW was one of my favorite parts of the exchange year. During this week, I gave almost eight presentations to 500 people. Everyone loved my presentations and I recorded their feedback.  IEW was unforgettable because I was able to change a lot of people’s perspective about Pakistan. In the end of the presentation a lot of students actually wanted to visit Pakistan at least once in their lives. I gave presentations in every class and my choir club. I got asked a lot of questions some of them were really funny like "Do you have homes in Pakistan?" This was the funniest question I was asked. I gifted Pakistani Badges and little flags to my audience. I taught them a Pakistani Dance that was actually fun. Because of this presentation, I was also nominated as BIG BUCK BRAG BOARD of Vidor High School. You can watch my IEW video below: