“I believe that being a Foreign Exchange student is really out of the ordinary. It is something that takes a lot of willpower and effort. Therefore, many factors should come into play to nourish and contribute to the success of such experience.”
In late summer of 2019 I left my home country Tunisia on a life changing adventure. I was your typical 16 year old who had—and actually still has—his fair share of stubbornness, curiosity and excitement to conquer the world. Looking back now, I had absolutely no idea what I signed up for. It was exciting, thrilling, and maybe a little bit scary?
Days and weeks went by and I am no longer a guest. Now I’m speaking decent English and I’m starting to call Bojangles “heaven on Earth”. I have officially made Wake Forest, North Carolina my new Home.
The honeymoon phase is gone, and the roller coaster takes off. Although being a foreign exchange student seems so tempting, it definitely has its ups and downs. Luckily, nobody is left there struggling on their own. Well-built support mechanisms are set up to help us when we are in need. Essentially, that involves people from our host communities: host parents, friends, teachers, and most importantly the Borderless Friends Forever team.
My relationship with BFF is really exceptional and I hold it dear to my heart. They went out of their way to assure their students’ comfort and satisfaction. Personally, they helped me grow into a better person and taught me to accept who I truly am. It was certainly through our monthly events and get-togethers that I learned to appreciate them. I enjoyed every moment that I spent with all the CAs, the Program Manager, and the Executive Director. They all contributed to my experience endlessly and honestly I wouldn’t want to have it any other way.
Now that I am back in Tunisia, my relationship with BFF continues. To this day, even when I am thousands of miles away, I still learn from them. That is respected infinitely.
A special “thank you” goes out to: Azah and Jessica