A friend of mine (who is also an exchange student) recently sent me this list she found online, and each of the points is so incredibly relatable that I just had to include it in my blog for all other exchange student friends reading :)
(Note - I did not actually write this!)
You Know You're an Exchange Student If...
You spend a lot of time smiling, nodding, and pretending you understand what's happening around you.
You classify "doing your homework" as translating half of it. And that alone takes three hours.
You read anything in your native language just to have something to read...even packaging labels.
Other exchange students feel like family to you.
You sometimes walk around the school during breaks to act like you're doing something, because you don't see anyone you recognize and don't want to stand there awkwardly.
You often just start thinking in your new language without even realizing it.
You sleep way more than ever before in your life, because there is nothing more exhausting than listening to and speaking in a foreign language the entire day.
You remind yourself daily of how much you are going to exercise when you get back home.
You have a long list of embarrassing stories that still make you cringe.
You are the "dictionary" in English class - a role you secretly love.
You mispronounce things in your native language (for example, names of products, TV shows, companies) because you know the others will only understand it if you say it with their accent.
You've tried so many different foods, mostly because you cannot understand the person asking you what you want, so you just nod your head, say "yes", and hope it tastes okay.
You've tried to order something in your host country's language only to be answered in English because you did it so badly.
Your dreams are bilingual.
You get sick more often than ever before in your life.
Sometimes it takes you about five minutes to remember a word in your native language.
You automatically use words in a foreign language that you can't even translate but they just seem to fit the context.
You've asked for some type of food/snack/drink to be care packaged to you as your Christmas present.
You've gotten got out of punishment of being yelled at because you didn't understand the language or pretended that you didn't.
You know all of the lyrics from the current Top 20 songs in your host country, even though you don't completely understand what they mean.
You wait all week for your library's one English magazine (TIME) to arrive.
You've succeeded in fitting all your worldly possessions into 2 suitcases and a carry on, but you cringe at the mention of 'suitcase weight limit'.
You have been in the country long enough that when you see a 'foreigner' you laugh and shake your head.
It becomes habit to introduce yourself by saying 'I am from (country) and my name is (name)'.
Every day is a new adventure and you don't consider it a day unless something worthy of story telling happens.
You read books you've never heard of and would never dream of reading if you were back home because they are the only English books in your library.
You 'talk' to your pets when you Skype home.
You find the things that were strange to you when you first arrived so normal that you now think the equivalent back home is strange.
You've become really good friends with people you barely spoke to back home because they message you more than the people you considered your 'good' friends.
You can't imagine what life will be like without all the wonderful things you have experienced and friends you have made in your new country.
You can't remember the words for things so you make them up, and everyone understands exactly what you mean, or thinks that your word is cooler than the real word.
People mistake you for a local until you speak (sometimes even after).
You no longer know where or what home is.
You get offended when people try to speak to you in your native language.
You find that speaking in your native language becomes strangely difficult and you forget words that you have known almost your whole life.
You worship a hand written letter that went by 'snail mail'.
The first words you learned were the 'bad' ones.
When you call home your family is convinced you are getting stupid because you can't speak your own language.
You have trouble explaining to your host family why you celebrate certain holidays in your country.
You can't say your host family's phone number in your native language, only in your host country's language.
'Good job! I understood you!' is the best compliment.
Before waiting to see if anyone understood what you meant, you start acting it out.
You begin to enjoy foods that you had previously despised at home.
You've said something like 'oh yes' or 'no thanks' only to have everyone laugh because your answer made no sense compared to the question.
You get a little scared before starting a sentence with big words in it in your new language.
You have been put in a one or more classes with the younger students, because you're supposed to understand more there.
You are always counting the time difference between where you are and home.
When you do something wrong and people look at you weirdly, your excuse is "That's how we do it in my country" (even if it isn't).
You can't pass a bakery without getting something, or at the very least pressing your nose up against the window.
You have gone in to greet someone with a shake of hands and find yourself being pulled into an awkward hug/double kiss on the cheek.
You carry a dictionary and a camera in your bag at all times.
As soon as you open your mouth, everyone immediately knows "You're not from around here".
You have bought so many clothes in your country so you don't look so much like a foreigner.
You have grown so attached to your new country, host family, friends, and life - so the idea of having to leave someday is terrifying. (But at the same time, there are things about your native country you can't wait to have back).
You are reading this list and find it hilarious, though people around you reading it say 'I don't get it.'