By Kashmaeen Khan (Pakistan, 2018-2019, hosted by CCI in Windham, ME)

My exchange year has been a blast as I have been exposed to multiple cultures all at once. My high school in Windham, Maine has many exchange students from different countries and cultures. 

Being surrounded by such a variety of cultures and countries has changed my perspective about global issues. My placement organization has also organized events that have broadened my opinions and led me to develop a greater appreciation towards my own culture. The best part of my exchange, however, was my host family who provided me with the care and affection that reminded me of home.

This month, I had my first and last American prom. My host mother has a very deep admiration for Pakistani culture and the cultural clothes, so she encouraged me to wear a Pakistan made embroidered cultural dress to prom. She bought the same dress as me and wore that to her adult prom. I looked different from everyone, but in the best way and represented my culture at prom. 

I loved being able to share Pakistani culture at my prom and it made this year’s prom experience the best. My teachers and friends appreciated my efforts to promote the Pakistani culture in an American event. So many people came up to me with eagerness to know about my dress and were willing to buy the same one.

It's always great to share and promote your culture with other cultural groups and the YES program has made this possible for me. The YES program has enabled me to share my culture through international events organized by my placement organization and presentations I have given in my school and other places including Rotary club and CEW. Thank you to my host family for hosting me and thank you to YES for giving me this life-changing opportunity.