5/15/2008 - The Year that Changed Me for the Better
by Saimah Mamalo,
Philippines 2005-06
hosted in New Jersey
Just when I was about to begin writing this, I was also distracted by some of my quite a few internet sites, namely friendster, myspace, multiply and facebook. And from the speech that I was going to make, my focus and attention shifted to those web-wonders. A notification had caught my attention on facebook. It said that my friend Cat, from Norway, had tagged my friends Giulia from Italy and Cemre from Turkey in a photo. I got extremely excited and jealous at the same time with the thought that maybe these three have met each other somewhere in Europe and that’s just too lucky of them! Then later when I viewed the photo, I immediately recognized it: June 26, 2006, New Jersey shore, overlooking the NYC skyline. It was our last night in NJ and for all except me and Kiki from Indonesia, it was also their last night in the US of A.
Now this is not a dream. I am indeed telling you a story from a real experience. It is with honor and pride that I share with you my story of being a Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program exchange scholar to the United States of America.
I have always been very interested in the American world. Of course, how can you not be, seeing it everywhere on TV, hearing about it over the radio, the internet and almost all types of media. Tell me how you can ever run away from it.
The sensation when I was told by my principal to apply for the scholarship was odd. It was as if I was really going to be accepted for it or much more than that, that I was already on my way to the States. I was exceptionally excited for the yet-so-soon coming true of my dream.
Finally, in August of 2005, I was one of the 40 youth leaders and young hopefuls to be sent to the United States of America to become an “Ambassador of Goodwill” for our dear Philippines. After a series of written exams, on-the-spot essays, panel discussions and panelist screenings, I am indeed proud for having made it.
I was hosted by a really nice “all-American” family in New Jersey. I had a host mom and dad, smart and nice young adult host brother and sisters, a nice house and a big and beautiful dog with the name, Tessie. About half-way through my experience, however, I moved to a new family. My new host family was a nice loving couple without children who treated me as their own daughter.
In School, I was also a very active student. I was a member of the State Champion Forensics Team which was a Public Speaking and Debate team in our school, and was also really honored to have competed to Harvard University for the Harvard National Forensics Invitational. There I competed with my original oratory titled “The Pop Freedom” which talked about how American’s practice their freedom and how this affects their image to an international audience. Although I did not “break”; a term used for “winning” in forensics, just being at the world’s top University was already a trophy for me.
I have made several friends from around the world. As we all know, America is the melting pot of all races and cultures in the world. Also with other exchange students from other countries, we formed a friendship that will forever bond us together no matter how far we are from each other.
I traveled a lot during my year there. I have been to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC, Virginia, Baltimore, Maryland, Philadelphia, Connecticut, New York City, cities in Massachusetts, Florida, and of course went around New Jersey. Each step I took, each landmark I touched and set foot on, every face I’ve known and even just seen; I have considered them as my greatest treasures in life.
My experience opened my vision in the widest way possible. There was where I saw the evenhandedness of each living entity. I learned that Americans and other races think very muchthe same as how we, Filipinos, think. No matter what our color is, be it black, white, brown, pink, yellow or purple, no matter which side of the world we come from, we in essence are still the same. This is probably the greatest learning that I have gained and proved to myself during my exchange year.
Being a Filipino-Muslim, I was also able to share with them our culture just as how they had shared theirs with mine. I was able to open their eyes, and understanding about Islam, beyond how they just see and perceive it – being a religion of terrorists and morons. I myself stood before them as a good example of what Muslims are.
This life-changing experience made me a citizen of not just our country but of the world. Because of the connections I made globally through my friends, now I don’t just care about what is happening on this side of the world, but I am also concerned of the what-abouts in other countries. True indeed, the AFS/YES mission that only through personal ties shall we fully understand each other and have unity, which will lead to what this program has been standing and working for: Peace in the whole wide world.
This is not impossible. If only we open our eyes and see what is happening out there. But how can we even look out there if even just inside our very own soil we cannot spare a glimpse of concern to what has been happening outside. My young fellows, we have to be involved. Let us know the situation of other countries and let us be a catalyst for change. As a mantra as it has truly been, by Mahatma Gandhi, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world” for you alone can already be a change. I myself can truly attest to this prophecy.
As I look back 2 or 3 years ago, I couldn’t believe that I am this kind of person today: concerned, involved, and taking a step, my own step, in achieving the change that I would like to see in the future. The change for myself, my family, my country and the world. My exchange year is undoubtedly the year that changed me for the better.
This article was originally published here.
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