“One’s destination is never be a place, but a new way of seeing things.” - Henry Miller.
In 2010, I went to Norway for a student exchange program. This program has the aim of helping to increase participants' understanding and tolerance of other cultures, as well as improving the language skills and broadening social horizons.
The experience of becoming a student in Norway for a year gives me a lot of advantages. Since I met people from all over the world, my perspective in viewing things expanded. I got international learning towards acceptance and understanding different cultures. It also enhanced my interest in global issues as well as a broader general knowledge by communicating with people from around the world.
A major bonus in living abroad, especially in a country where English is not the first language, is made me able to speak in Norwegian. Learning Norwegian was very difficult for me, therefore it was a quiet big challenge for me. As we know, communication is not only about words, it also involves gestures and signs in it.
My live in Norway which is very contrast to my live in Indonesia has made me become a mature person and given me the ability to adapt and adjust to a different culture. A year living in Norway also taught me to be an independent person and be tough in all conditions. It has enriched my life. When I came back to Indonesia, I did have troubles re-adjusting into Indonesian high school life. However, as a human being, I make mistakes, I get frustrated that I can not be understood, but I learn, adapt, and find ways around it and listen. Listening is the key. The more I listen, the more I learn to speak, and the more I learn to understand.
Being an exchange student was one of the most enriching experience in my life. It was hard, but the hard made the end result all the more worthwhile.
