A year full of adventures

Kacper Montewka, FLEX 20’

At the moment of writing this, I’m in the USA 8 months now, more than halfway done. And I don’t regret it! There is no one word that I could use to  describe this rich experience here, and all the benefits I got, and I keep getting from my exchange year. I became SMARTER, MORE OPEN FOR THE WORLD, WISER and MORE RESPONSIBLE.

I TRIED NEW, never tried before, sports, food, school subjects and  American way of living. I was running, swimming, and playing Tennis. I got closer with my team members, making many of them close friends and got to know other school’s students during the meets. I ate local food, BBQ, biscuits, okra and much more! I signed up for carpentry, cooking,and agriculture classes, gaining important life skills, now I can make a bench, work with food and care about the environment. 

I EXPERIENCED NEW, holidays, parties, volunteering. I celebrated Thanksgiving for the first time in my life, went to Chinese LANTERN FESTIVAL, Prom, Homecoming Dance, school football games and Air show. I accomplished 50 hours of volunteering.

I VISITED NEW places, different states, mountains, beach, Disney World, DollyWood. In less than a year I was in 5 states, NC, SC, TN, VA and FL.

I MADE NEW, friendships, contacts, developed new view on the world, way of being and cultures. 

I SHARED NEW, for american citizens, culture, cuisine, traditions. I cooked my host family Polish pierogies, pączki  and kopytka. 

I WAS HELPFUL with all I could, and received more heart from my host family that I could imagine. I help organize new babies' rooms, rebuild a backyard shed and with yard work.

I’m really thankful to both, FLEX program and my host family! It is an unforgettable experience. It makes me sad that it’s almost over.