The purpose behind the “student cultural exchange program”or “exchange year”, as it is known officially, is to learn about people from foreign countries and from other cultures, in the strictest meaning of the phrase.
Table of Contents
What is an ‘Exchange Year'?
The project was clear to me: to have contact with a culture different to yours, which you were born and raised. The people of your host country may have very different opinions than you about many topics; but in the end, learning about this differences will definitely enrich you and the life you have left.
The invisible barrier
Today, the undisputed king of languages is english. Speaking this language will allow to travel to many places and communicate with people from different cultures. But here is an unfortunate catch: it won't help you integrate in your target culture. Which means, it is not enough by itself.
Being in a meeting with foreigner friends is a clear example. They will be talking in the foreign language and if you don't speak their language, they will translate you a few times before it gets tedious. Plus, some expresions can't be fully translated without losing their meaning.
One unseen bonus
Therefore, the exchange year will also help you learn to speak a language. By living among the people of your host country, you will learn the idioms, expressions and how to communicate in a new way. If you go to a country, where english isn't the native language, you shouldn't worry.
The story behind my Exchange Year
In my family, all my brothers (older than me) went aboard in an exchange year.
- 1 went to San Francisco, USA.
- 2 went to Preston, England.
- 1 went to Hameln, Germany.
In my parents words, “go and see a part of the world”. All I needed to know, is which country should I go to?
Why Germany as the Exchange Year Host Country?
For almost one year, from august 2008 to july 2009, I went to Germany as an exchange student. I lived in Köln (Cologne), Kürten and Ahaus. All three cities offered different contrasts which enriched my experience.
Why did I decide to go and live among the germanic tribes? I will leave it for another blog post.
What is like to be an exchange student?
I went to 3 different german families and lived among them. The same way, my parents received other exchange students in my house. In both cases, the families exchanged their sons or daughters for a year. Therefore, the term ‘exchange’.
There are moments where you are just feeling great: enjoying foods out of your reach, having fun with new friends or traveling in interesting places. However, there will be moments when you might think it wasn't a good idea coming in the first place. Sometimes you feel alone, or that you don't fit in this new country, or that you don't progress in your host language (or even worse: you strongly believe that you won't learn anything more).
You may end up eating animals you once considered to be pets…
Next chapters
I hope you enjoyed reading it as I enjoyed writing about it! Thus, I will write about my experiences among the germanic tribes in voyageLlama and I definitely won't write in order. Check out the blog for more related posts in the future.
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Posts during July-August 2008
First Day in Cologne, Germany: my Host City - This was my first day in Cologne, Germany. I learned a few interesting facts about this city and their culture.… 
First Days in Germany during my Exchange Year - My First Days in Germany were fun! There were culture shocks but I thought that it was going to be… 
Crossing the Atlantic, how I got to Germany - Once I said goodbye to my homeland, it was time for crossing the Atlantic for my exchage year in Germany.… 
Visit from a friend, a short connection back to home - During the exchange year, I faced loneliness a few times. Luckily, I got a visit from a friend from my… 
Language School, a secure Deal for better Skills in German. - In the language school I learned German (at least the basics) in order to live in Germany as exachnge student.… 
Interview to the Exchange Students in the Newspaper - A local newspaper made an interview to an exchange student group about their thoughts about Germany. Click here to read… 
Culture Shock: my first contact in few weeks in Germany - At the beginning of my exchange student year in Germany, there are culture shocks with the new foreign culture. Click… 
Night Life in Germany and the Elusive Obvious - The elusive obvious is something in front of you but you can't see it. I realized this in the night… 
Weed in Germany, how I met it and my shocking reactions. - To many germans was inconceivable that I have never smoked weed (cannabis) when I lived in Ecuador. Find out my… 
The Dark Lonely Street; A story of Drinking Beer - During my exchange year in germany, I had a unusual experience in a dark lonely street, where I was drinking… First Day in Cologne, Germany: my Host City - This was my first day in Cologne, Germany. I learned a few interesting facts about this city and their culture.… Posts during September 2008
Phantasialand, an immersive theme park in Germany - Phantasialand is a theme park located near Bonn. The exchange students went there to enjoy the ride. Click here to… 
Independence of Mexico nostalgic party in Germany - The Independence of Mexico was celebrated by classmates during a nostalgic party in Germany but I had to avoid neonazis.… Posts during October 2008
Posts during November 2008
Posts during December 2008
Posts during January 2009
Posts during February 2009
Posts during March 2009
Posts during April 2009
Posts during May 2009
Posts during June 2009
Posts during July 2009, after I returned from Germany
voyageLlama's Index of Content
Click on the following link to browse likewise content in the blog in voyageLlama. This index will help you see what you are looking for in a bird's eye view:
Keep Reading!
- Culture Shocks in Portugal, silly and unusual but awesome Differences
These are my intriguing culture shocks in Portugal that you have to know before visiting this lovely country. Click here to read. - 001 – What is Audioviajes? Introduction to the program with JuditovaWelcome to the first episode of Audioviajes, the voyageLlama podcast. Juditova presents the show and reveals some themes from the following episodes.
- 001 – What is Audioviajes? Introduction to the program with JuditovaWelcome to the first episode of Audioviajes, the voyageLlama podcast. Juditova presents the show and reveals some themes from the following episodes.
- Culture Shock: my first contact in few weeks in GermanyAt the beginning of my exchange student year in Germany, there are culture shocks with the new foreign culture. Click here to read more.
- Night Life in Germany and the Elusive Obvious
The elusive obvious is something in front of you but you can't see it. I realized this in the night life in Germany. Click here to learn more.
[…] Don’t forget to visit the voyageLlama blog and read my story about my exchange year in Germany from 2008 to […]
[…] during 2008-2009 I was living in Germany (yes, I survived!). It was an eye-opening experience to me for many reasons. My life changed a lot […]