My American Experience: The Year
Each year, we ask our students to reflect on their exchange years as part of our My American Experience essay contest. Ioannis, our first-place winner, reflects on the many ways his exchange year in Wisconsin will remain a part of him long after he returns home.
The Year
By Ioannis Kalimeris
“Sunday afternoon, the sun peeking through my bedroom window, touching softly the room I have had for the past year. All my belongings dispersed through the room, like a large map of palpable memories, ready to be packed and expedited back home. While putting each item, each ticket or wristband that I've kept through the year, every souvenir acquired for my loved ones at home, I keep reminiscing of my year in America. A year more impactful than any other, one single year, which was enough to change everything.
When I first arrived here, everything was new. With a positive aura of new beginnings and fresh starts surrounding my character, I accommodated quite fast. Given the ability to describe myself 8 months ago, although open, I was also enclosed in the safety of the known. When I stepped onto the stage of American society, knowing that the clock was ticking and together with my visa, my exchange year had an expiration date, I began changing. I learned to say yes to everything, never turning down an opportunity which could lead me to the “full American experience” as I jokingly called this attitude with my new friends. Through this exhilarating way of thinking, I found myself doing things I would never even fathom of pursuing back home. I joined the theater department of my school, getting to act in the musical Mamma Mia, which ironically, was set in my home country of Greece. During my second trimester, as the most unathletic person in my town, and together with my mediocre ability to merely swim around the Mediterranean, I signed up for my school's swimming team. The two-hour practices eight times a week were an initial shock, but with the support of my friends, teammates and host family, I was able to swim away the entire three month season. In conclusion, the impact my host community had on me was of an imperative importance. It turned my personality upside down, making me adventurous, fearless, forcefully positive. It not only made me learn to never turn down a new experience, but also fully enjoy every second of it.
“I keep reminiscing of my year in America. A year more impactful than any other, one single year, which was enough to change everything.”
My numerous involvements in various activities gave me a grave insight into this country’s culture. Studying the quintessential classes of American government and United States History accompanied by my real-life experiences I learned innumerable characteristics of American life. Through volunteering at the food pantry or being a part of my school's National Honors Society—both activities which I will try to implement in my city back home—I learned how kind, giving and supportive are communities in the US, all connected through a web of support and empathy.
From what I know of American culture now, there would be certain aspects which I will definitely be packing together with all my personal items to take back home. The aforementioned empathy and kindness is one of them, which, through my actions and projects, I’ll try to implement in the largely impersonal and individualistic society in Athens, Greece. Furthermore, American people are possessed with a spectacular work ethic which sometimes seems infinite. This is a quality which I would like to take home and spread around in my environment. Because what can better bring growth and progressiveness if not hard work and devotion?
All these circumstances have been of significant impact on who I am as a person, but if I had to choose the most influential, it would be my non-American exchange sister, Dipta. Having a sister has been the most beautiful and exciting experience. Getting to live this exchange year not only through my own perception, but through hers too, has been extremely rewarding. One could argue that it's two in one. Her positivity, kindness, and unconditional support have influenced me in truly ineffable ways. All the doubts of having a double placement which existed before I moved here, have been completely demolished and replaced by eternal gratefulness and love for my new forever sibling.
“I found myself doing things I would never even fathom of pursuing back home. I joined the theater department of my school...I signed up for my school’s swimming team. ”
A thousand words is not enough. There is not an adequate word limit to suffice a fulfilling explanation of this exchange year. The time has come to an end, and the emotions are too many and too complicated, overarched by joy and genuine happiness. I have met innumerable people and made many new friendships, I changed as a person, I became more loving, appreciative, ambitious, and courageous. I expanded my family with some of the most amazing people. Now on this afternoon, all the memories lay in front of me, the future in a
similar way. Suitcases are open, ready to be overfilled with clothes and sentiments, ready to pass the terminal and board the same flight as me. I am proud and happy to say that I appreciated
every moment of it, I used every second to learn and grow. And while many emotions surround my departure, I am positive of the cycle that; when one story ends, another begins.”
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