Your Exchange Year: Why Comparing is the Fastest Way to Ruin It (and How to Not Do That)

Alright, superstar - let's talk.

You've probably seen those dreamy Instagram stories from other exchange students: road trips,

host siblings who look like they stepped out of a Netflix show, endless ice cream runs, and captions

like "Best. Year. Ever."

Here's the thing no one tells you: that's about 3% of their actual life. The other 97%? Homework.

Missing home. Wondering why their host family puts peanut butter on everything.

If you keep holding up your life next to someone else's highlight reel, you're going to miss the beauty

of your own story.

Big cities. Small towns. Farms, festivals, football games, and everything in between.

1. Comparing is basically self-sabotage.

When you compare, you're not seeing the full picture - just the glittery bits other people choose to

post. You'll start feeling like your own year is "less than," when in reality, it's just different.

And different isn't bad. Different is the whole point.

Think of it like this: if everyone had the exact same exchange year, it'd be like watching the same

movie 1,000 times. Snooze!

2. You are the main character of your year.

You've been handed the starring role in a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. This is your plot, with your

people, in your town.

No one else will ever live the exact same version you're living right now. Own it.

Stop wishing for someone else's script and start making your own scenes worth remembering. (Yes,

even the awkward or boring ones - they're character development.)

3. Reality check: challenges aren't glitches, they're features.

Your bus is late? Host sibling "borrows" your charger again? Cafeteria mystery meat?

Congratulations - you're collecting the moments you'll laugh about later.

Adapting is part of the deal. Every awkward moment, every misunderstanding, every day that feels

"meh" is quietly turning you into someone stronger, smarter, and way better at life than you were

before.

4. Don't expect your host life to be your home life with a different zip code.

If you came here expecting things to be exactly like back home... surprise - you didn't buy a ticket for

a replica, you bought one for a whole new world.

Different rules, different routines, different food, different family dynamics. That's the point.

If you wanted the exact same things you had back home, you could've just stayed there - and saved

yourself the jet lag.

Your exchange year is meant to stretch you. It's about discovering that there's more than one

"normal" in the world - and yours is just one version. The sooner you stop fighting the differences,

the sooner you'll start loving the experience you came here for.

Volunteering at Operation Christmas Child. They came from different corners of the world, but found common ground in giving back.

5. Your expectations matter more than your situation.

If you think your year has to be a 24/7 party to be "successful," you're setting yourself up to be

disappointed.

Exchange is not just fun days. It's real life in another country. That means grocery runs, slow

weekends, homework, and figuring out how to work the shower.

When you start expecting growth instead of constant excitement, you'll stop feeling let down and

start feeling proud.

6. The secret weapon? Gratitude + curiosity (and less screen time).

Gratitude makes you notice the good stuff you'd otherwise miss. Curiosity makes you dive into new stuff you didn't even know you'd like.

Host mom makes a weird casserole? Try it.

Local festival? Go.

Friend invites you to join the marching band even though you've never touched an instrument? Why

not.

And here's the tough love part: get off your phone sometimes. If you're constantly scrolling through

other people's lives, you're not living yours. Put it down, look around, and let yourself actually be

here. The more you say "yes" to your year, the less time you'll spend wishing for someone else's.

Nelly from Germany joined FFA with zero farm experience… and discovered it was way more fun than she ever imagined. Sometimes saying “yes” leads you straight to the best surprises.

Bottom line:

You've got one shot at this exchange year. Don't waste it staring at the fence wishing for greener

grass. Water your own grass - in your own yard - with your own people.

And remember: ten years from now, when you look back, the weird days might actually be your

favorite stories.

DO:

-Say yes to new foods, events, and weird opportunities.

- Hang out with locals, not just other exchange students.

- Get off your phone and live in the moment.

- Ask questions instead of making assumptions.

- Laugh off mistakes - they're part of the story.

- Make your host family your family (help out, talk, share).

- Find the good in boring or frustrating days.

- Celebrate small wins - like figuring out the bus schedule.

- Document your year (journal, photos, videos) for you, not just social media.

DON'T:

- Compare your year to someone else's highlight reel.

- Spend all your free time in your room.

- Expect your host family to be exactly like your family at home.

- Refuse things because they're "different" or "not like home."

- Wait for fun to magically appear - go make it happen.

- Use your phone as a shield when you feel awkward.

- Let one bad day convince you it's a bad year.

- Treat this like a vacation - you're living here, not visiting.

This is what happens when you say “yes” to showing up. New faces become familiar, and strangers become friends.

Share this with another exchange student who needs this reminder today!