All good things must come to an end, so Salomon reflects on a year abroad, a year in South Dakota
by Marieke Salomon, GHS Blue Ink
Editor’s Note: Marieke Salomon is an exchange student from Germany. She has spent the past school year with host family Todd and Heidi Fink. Families are always sought in the area, which allows other foreign exchange students to experience life in a small, Midwest community.
What if I never signed up? What if I never packed my suitcase? What if I never said goodbye to my family? What if I never stepped foot on that plane? What if?
What would my life be like? There is no answer to that question.
This past year I got to experience so much because of all the things I got to do and all the new people I met. I got to learn about the American lifestyle, the school system, and so much more.
I met incredible people who helped me grow and become who I am now. I changed a lot during my 10 months that I spent in Garretson. I learned to make my own decisions and not run to my parents with everything. I had to learn how to stand up for myself and how to deal with some stuff by myself that I didn't know how to take care of before.
I’m going to be honest. When I got the call with my placement and the lady on the phone said, “Garretson, SD” I had no idea where South Dakota even was.
Still, I was excited and after a little research I learned that Garretson was a tiny town, which kind of disappointed me since I'm not used to living in a small town.
No matter what, I was over the moon excited that I got to spend, at that point, 5 months, in the US. Originally, I only wanted to stay for the first semester, not because I didn’t want to stay longer, more because of my school in Germany.
School in Germany is way harder than in the US so I wasn’t sure if I could just miss a year or if I would have to retake my sophomore year.
The closer the day of my flying to the US came the more scared I got. The thoughts in my head of “what if” and “what if not” made me rethink everything. What if I don't fit in? What if I don't get along with my host family? Well, it definitely was too late to back out and my flights were in just two weeks.
A week before I left, I sat in my room deciding what to bring and what not to bring and I most definitely got into multiple fights with my mom because my ONE suitcase was overweight.
August 1 came around and I said goodbye to my family and made my way to New York. After multiple layovers and delays I arrived at the hotel and passed out.
Over the next couple of days, I, and 10 other exchange students from all over the world, went out and explored New York. It was incredible and I'm so glad I got to do that.
August 4, our driver dropped us off at JFK and we were on our own to find our gates and deal with any issues.
Again, after multiple layovers and delays, I landed in Sioux Falls. If you’ve ever been to the Sioux Falls airport you know those gates that you have to walk through to get to the waiting area.
I knew that behind those doors was my host family waiting for me. I had no idea how to feel or what to expect. I FaceTimed my host family about 5 times before I met them in person.
I was scared to live with total strangers. My worries were unnecessary. I was welcomed with open arms and a house full of food.
The first week went by and we had to start school. I was scared because I've never been “the new kid” before so I had no idea what to do, how to act or what to say.
It took me a while to get used to everything and everybody but after a while I had some sort of routine.
I got to experience so many different things like homecoming, my first ever football game and so much more. There were a lot of first times but also a lot of last times.
Around Christmas I had to pick if I wanted to stay for another semester or go back home. It was not an easy decision but I'm glad I decided to stay longer even though that meant that I couldn't see my family and friends for another 5 months.
Everyone warned me that the second semester was going to go by so fast. Of course I did not believe anybody, but they were right.
Next thing I know it is May and I have to start packing my now THREE suitcases again. The thoughts of “what if” come to my head all over again.
On the one hand, I'm so excited to go back, but on the other hand, I do not want my time here to end.
When I left Germany, I knew when and that I was going to be back sometime, but that is a little different now. I don't know when or if I'll come back. I don’t know who I will see again, and who I will say my last goodbye to.
Thank you, Garretson, for all the memories and all the people that made my time here unforgettable.
