CFN– I think it’s amazing what being an exchange student can do to a person. All the ways that I’ve changed is absolutely mind blowing, when I think back to who I was before I moved to Denmark.I used to have so many fears. Especially over small, insignificant things. And now when I think about them, I realize how many of these fears that I have, in fact, overcome! Simple things, like walking in late for class, or asking a complete stranger a question, or even calling someone to inquire information about something, I am now able to do it!
One of my biggest fears was asking questions. I don’t even know why I was too shy and awkward to do so before, but now I realize what a silly thing that was. Now, when I’m walking down the street, if I dont know where it is that im going, I have no trouble asking a random person. Or, if I hear someone speaking english, I have no troubles turning to them and asking where they’re from.
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I have found that being able to do this has enabled me to make friends a lot more easily! Just the other day, there was a girl (who goes to my school) heading out at the same time as me, to the bus stop. I had noticed her before, purely because of one simple thing that she owned: Canadian Olympic gloves. And, so, the next time I saw her, with no hesitations, I asked her about it. Turns out that she went to visit Canada (Toronto, specifically) over the Christmas break!
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Another thing that I have overcome is my fear of being and doing things alone. It’s such a silly fear when you think about it. After all, every body will enter and leave this world alone. And, as a result, I spent a couple hours inside the Art Museum, here in my city all by myself. Despite the fact that I have been there a handful of times already, it was such a different experience going there alone. And I loved it, I must say!
Some other things that have changed, is my food preferences. There are things that I never thought I could live without, and there are things that I never thought I would actually even think about liking, let alone eating it! But this weekend, as I sat down at the table to a meal of fish, I did not bat an eye. Exchange is about trying new things and changing as a person, so despite the fact that I hate fish, I tucked away my previous thoughts, and likings and promised that I would try it.
Some other things that have changed, is my food preferences. There are things that I never thought I could live without, and there are things that I never thought I would actually even think about liking, let alone eating it! But this weekend, as I sat down at the table to a meal of fish, I did not bat an eye. Exchange is about trying new things and changing as a person, so despite the fact that I hate fish, I tucked away my previous thoughts, and likings and promised that I would try it.
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The fact that I actually liked the fish is a something completely strange all in its own. I was able to eat an entire half of the fish for dinner (the other side was a bit overcooked for my liking) and I think one of the biggest surprises was just the fact that I didn’t hate it. It has showed me that no matter what, anything is possible.
The fact that I actually liked the fish is a something completely strange all in its own. I was able to eat an entire half of the fish for dinner (the other side was a bit overcooked for my liking) and I think one of the biggest surprises was just the fact that I didn’t hate it. It has showed me that no matter what, anything is possible.
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Tabatha Pilon is a 17 year old student from Cornwall Ontario spending a year in Denmark. She will be writing to us each week or as her “gymnasium” schedule allows.
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