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| "I am a Rebel" |
For those who are not aware, I was recently on an exchange in the United States.
I lived in Oxford, Mississippi for 4 months while I was studying at the University of Mississippi- Ole Miss. This was possible thanks to the U.S. Department of State through an institution called World Learning, they provided me with an scholarship as a consequence of my grades and leadership skills.
I don't even have to mention how amazing and unforgettable my experience was. However, before going abroad I read a couple of articles regarding "the hard part no one talks about after an exchange experience". I honestly thought it was all drama and overreaction.
Now I openly say I was mistaken.
After I came back, I spent two weeks locked down in my room, recovering from the shock of leaving my friends who are now family; family I gained during those 4 months. There is nothing to compare the feeling of leaving someone you love, such as best friends and even the lady who used to serve you lunch everyday.
At the beginning, after coming back I used to close my eyes and all I could visualize were all the moments I lived during those 4 months, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. Vain details crossed my mind, I could remember the smell, the colors and texture of everything I saw and everything I experienced.
Nevertheless, now it's even worst. With my eyes open my brain replays everything over and over non stop. No one told me about this sickness post exchange, about the happiness and pain mix up all together when I THINK about my dorm, my friends, the food, the opportunities.
Now I know that what I read before going abroad is real, it's not someone overreacting, it's just reality.
It has been 4 months since I came back, I miss everyone I met and all the places I visited. Even though that makes me a little sad, it also makes me happy and gives me the strength to keep moving forward.
Especial thanks to those who made my stay at Ole Miss and United States in general unforgettable, thanks for the memories.
Representing Dominican Republic As a friend from Moldova says: "I am a lucky bastard."
