Sofie spent a year abroad in the USA

My Exchange Year in Arizona

Hi, I'm Sofie and I spent my exchange year in Arizona on the F1 program, which meant I could choose the state I wanted — and I knew right away it had to be the USA. Since I was little, I had dreamed of living in America. When I was about 8 years old, I randomly told my parents I wanted to move there one day, and they jokingly said I could when I was older. I never let that go. Every year I reminded them, and honestly, everyone who has ever known me knew this was my dream. So when I finally booked my exchange year, I didn’t even need to announce it — people just expected it.

The year started off with the New York Welcome Camp, which was such a fun way to meet other exchange students who were also beginning their American adventure. Later on, I even got to go back to New York, and I also traveled to California and Hawaii. Hawaii was especially unforgettable — spotting sea turtles, swimming in the ocean, and seeing everything there just felt unreal.

School in Arizona felt like being in a movie. My first football game under the Friday night lights quickly became one of my favorite things to do, and I got to experience homecoming, prom, and graduation with my class. I joined the tennis team, which gave me the chance to be part of school life in a whole new way. The biggest difference compared to back home was definitely the school spirit — everything in the U.S. felt bigger, louder, and more energetic. People got so involved with events, sports, and clubs, and I loved being part of that atmosphere.

Some of my favorite memories from my exchange were also the smaller ones. I would go on late-night cookie runs with my friends or when it got really warm after school we would have boat days on the lake surrounded with cactuses, which was truly unforgettable. During my exchange year, even ordinary days were filled with unique experiences I would never have had back home. I also got to celebrate a real American Halloween which was something I had always dreamed of.

My friend hosted a Halloween party, we went trick or treating and then we watched a Halloween movie on a huge screen straight from her pool, it was truly something I had only ever seen in movies before. I also got to celebrate thanksgiving for the first time and Christmas in the USA, eating waffles for breakfast and getting the real American experience. All the holidays in the USA felt so special and just straight out of a movie. All these big, small and just everyday moments are what really made the year special.

If I had to share a funny memory, it would probably be from spirit week at school. I had never seen people go all out for theme days like that before. Everyone was in costumes, there were decorations everywhere, and the energy in the hallways made it one of the craziest but most fun weeks of the year.

Looking back, there is not just one thing I could say was the best part of my exchange year. It was the mix of everything, the travel, the school traditions, the friendships, holidays, and the little everyday experiences. This year gave me exactly what I had always dreamed of, and I know it’s something that will stick with me forever. It really showed me the importance of chasing my goals and following my dreams, so if there is one thing I can tell you, is follow your dreams, take the risks, and go on that exchange year! It may not always be perfect, but it is an experience you will never ever forget, and the memories will last you a lifetime.

Find out more

• Read more student stories from the USA
• Read more about a high school exchange in the USA
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