International/ Payton Moormeier

1.

It was extremely hard to get my parents' approval. To assure them that nothing's going to happen to me, because surely I'm not the only student in the whole world who takes part in the International students exchange. I needed to assure them that there's a really small chance of my plane's crushing on the way to the USA from Germany, that my host family is going to be a perverted group of drug dealers and that I'm not going to be raped as soon as I step out of the plane. If I even step out.

That's exactly what my parents' expectations were. I know, I've discussed it with them years ago when my classmates started taking part in those exchange programmes. It all had happened before I got an opportunity myself. Never in a million years I'd thought that someday I'll be able to do it. To go alone to another country, live with a different family, speak foreign language and just be away from everything that reminds me of my birthplace and all of that.

Don't you think that I hate Germany or something,
no, I think, maybe exchange students or anybody who would love to try it themselves could understand me. Because it's definitely one of the best things that could have ever happened in my life. And that's what I thought about it.

So after months of hard working on my English, school grades and trying to become a perfect daughter only God knows how my parents agreed to let me go for 9 months to America! It's the freaking USA! You have no idea how happy I was in that day when I was told I can try to take part in the program. How many fights I had with parents, so they'd let me do it. I've never been any happier.

So that's how I got here. San Carlos, California. It's been a few days already. The school has started recently, but the principle said it's not a problem since it's only beginning of the semester.
When all the exchange students were distributing, I got into the Redwood High school. I even learnt the full name when back in Germany I got a letter from the manager of our exchange company when he announced that I got into the school, Redwood high school (Sequoia Union High School District).

Well, about my host family. They of course met me in the airport. So my host parents are Karen and Michael Mints. They have two kids a newborn Charlotte and Vanessa. Vanessa is 17 years old and thankfully she goes to the school I'm going to attend. That's what I though at least.

The house where I am supposed to leave is huge. I even got my own dorm, lucky me. Years back, when I was supposed to share a room with my sister for a while. I felt really uncomfortable, couldn't even sleep properly. So it made me understand that I need my private place.

So my dorm has a huge window in a middle of it. A king sized bed, my gosh. White desk, a big white   wardrobe. I love it. Hope my future flat gonna look like that. Black, white, grey or just pastel colours. Love it.

Of course, I had to show my parents the neighbourhood, the house, my room, my host parents and Charlotte. My parents don't speak English, as well as my host family doesn't  know German. I know that Michael has been learning German for a few months, but I still had to translate a bit. Vanessa wasn't around much. I either saw her in the morning or during the lunch, than she'd disappear. I didn't mind it at all.

And today's dinner was missed by Vanessa as well. The dishes were delicious. So after thanking Karen for the meals I finally headed out to my room. Only God knows how much I appreciate being alone. No, don't think I'm introvert, I'm just sure that everyone needs some private time.

" Heute bin ich müde. Ich rufe zurück, ok?" I asked my parents. (I'm tired today. I'm gonna call you later, okay?)

"Ja, gute Nacht" (Yes, good night)

«Gute Nacht" (good night) I replied, turning off my phone and then going straight  to the bathroom.

Tomorrow is finally the first day of school. I'm worried, but at the same time very excited. After brushing my teeth I went to bed.