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Living My Dreams!

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By Farah Noor Chowdhury (YES 2019–2020, Bangladesh, hosted by American Councils PO in Dumfries, VA)

I have been in the States for more than a month yet still, I sometimes stand in the yard, staring at the hummingbirds flickering over my host family’s bird feeder, and wonder if it is true or it is just a very long dream. If it is a dream, I don't want to wake up. More than three months ago, I sat on the rooftop of our apartment, looking high up towards the clouds hanging in the crimson sky, and saw an aircraft flying across the sky towards its destination. It was almost time for the sun to set, for the Adhaan to to be said, and for everyone to break their fast. At that moment, I knew that soon I too will be there: high up in the sky, flying towards the best year of my life.

Today, I am sitting here by the kitchen table, more than 8,000 miles away from home but never ever feeling that I am not home. The fuel of life is dreams and expectations. I came to America with lots of dreams and expectations folded between the pages of my passport and inside my heart but I never expected, in my wildest dreams, to find a home so comforting and a family so loving.

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Proud to be a Bangladeshi.

I will never forget the first time I met my host mother. Meeting one’s host family for the first time is different for everyone. I was sitting with Mr. Tim in the 4H Centre when “mom” came in and I ran towards her for a hug; to live the moment I have been waiting for so long. 

August 22, 2019: I went to my guidance counselor's office to choose my subjects with Mom. I wanted to learn photography very much and my host family loves to take pictures but I did not have a camera which I needed for the course. The day after that, I went to my local coordinator's house and stayed there at night for my arrival orientation. The next day, my host parents picked me up and we came back home late. I wished Mom “goodnight” when Dad came out of the kitchen holding a black box and said, "This is your after-birthday present, hope you make great memories and take a lot of pictures!" It was a camera! I was on the verge of tears.

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My first American birthday!

First day of school could have been quite scary with the endless long corridors and everyone rushing to a different place if the teachers weren't so helpful. I didn't make friends easily and it took me a bit of time. Now, I know how to make friends outside of my culture and community. Now, I can stand in front of any number of people and give a presentation without any fear. 

For every student, their exchange is a unique and different story that only they get to live. Exchange year is way more than just coming to the U.S. and living here. It's about living your own story and every precious moment of it; it's about being an ambassador of your own country; it's about making unbreakable ties around the world; and it's about living your wildest dreams! For me right now, every moment I live, I live forever because this moment and these moments will never come back.


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