Reflections on a year studying abroad

Hallo! Wie geht es Ihnen? Verstehen Sie mich? Nein?

Didn’t catch that last bit? That was German, the language I spent my last school year learning. As a student with the Rotary Youth Exchange Program, I left Aug. 8 of last year for Basel, Switzerland. With a basic knowledge of the language, a meager knowledge of Swiss culture and an open mind, I packed my bags and left home for a year-long journey to a place I had never been before. Even as I walked through the airport and waved goodbye to my family and friends, I still couldn’t have begun to imagine the adventure that awaited me.

Basel, a beautiful city in northern Switzerland, borders both Germany and France and sits peacefully on the Rhine. With a population around 170,000, a small city by European standards, Basel is a large jump for someone from Palmer. Throughout my year I stayed with three beautiful host families: the first family was Swiss with Italian descent, the second German and the third a lovely family of Swiss people. I attended one of the most prestigious schools in Basel, called the Gymnasium am Münsterplatz, and was surrounded every day by the nicest, most intelligent students. I played soccer, joined a tennis club and sang in a rock band.

My year away taught me more than I can explain. I discovered a new culture, found out more about myself, and most importantly started to understand life itself. I think the most important lesson my year taught me was to live every moment of every day and to be open to anything. I had help from a lot of people and throughout the year made heaps of friends, but ultimately I was on my own, away from the people I have known and trusted for the majority of my life. Subject to whatever came at me, I was ultimately the sole person in charge of any outcome during my exchange. With this realization, I decided to take each person and any situation, and turn it into the very best it could be; to focus on the finest aspects of everything. This truly made my exchange extraordinary and changed my perspective on life completely.

Back in Palmer for about a month now, I enrolled in Palmer High and currently run with the cross-country team. I lead a familiar life similar to what I knew before I left; however, now that I carry this new experience and positive outlook, my life here in Palmer has definitely changed.

When I departed, I felt excited to get away from Alaska to experience something better than what I thought was a mundane setting. Now I realize that I couldn’t ask to live in a better place. I returned to a beautiful land where there is so much to do and where my community is small and loving. I live with my wonderful family in a charming house in the most picturesque setting.

Life in the Valley is truly magnificent, and I am overjoyed that my exchange taught me this. I suggest to anyone and everyone, young or old, go on an adventure, experience something new and learn what the world has to teach you.

Kaden Weaver is a senior at Palmer High School. He lives on the outskirts of Palmer with his loving family and his dog, Jaeger. He enjoys running, playing soccer and downhill skiing.