1. Successfully survived a month

I've been here since August 26, 2017 and have had so many new experiences.

Before I went to Scotland, I spent a week in London with many other exchange students as a kind of preparation for what awaited us later. The week was really great. We went on a boat tour, visited China Town, went to various markets, passed by Buckingham Palace, and went on the London Eye. From there, we had a wonderful view of the entire city.

Finally, with an Italian girl named Stefania, I took the train from King's Cross to Waverly Station in Edinburgh. The train ride was really beautiful. When I saw the landscape for the first time, I was completely overwhelmed. Everything was so beautiful - the blue sea on a sunny day, the hills, even the fields and meadows.

When we arrived at the station, I was so excited. I had spoken to my host mother once before and had written to my host sister, Clara (she is also an exchange student from Italy). And then I saw my mother and my sister for the first time. They were super nice and friendly. I talked with Clara during the car ride, then we got pizza and went home. There I met my younger host sister, Ebonie, for the first time, who was 11 years old at that time. However, Ebonie only stays with us on weekends, as she is only the child of my host father, not my host mother. I didn't talk much to her this weekend, as one of her friends was staying overnight.

The next week, I spent my mornings going to a small forest about five minutes from our house and drawing. Then I would eventually go back home when it got too cold and wash the dishes from the night before. My host mother Donna usually came home around 2 pm, and my host father Andy came about three hours later. Then we would have dinner together, then Clara and I would go upstairs together, listen to some music, talk, and eventually go to sleep.

The following week, my school started and I was overwhelmed. Although I had already seen the school from the outside in pictures, it was so much more beautiful on the inside! On the edge of the main hallway, flower beds about a meter wide had been installed on the right and left, in which palm trees and other tropical plants were planted. The roof of the school was made of glass and tapered, so it felt a bit like being in a greenhouse, but cozier.

The week went by quickly and I got to know new people, but I mostly did things on my own during breaks. And the week after that, I hit a low point. I was sad and just didn't know why. Maybe it was because the people at school were a bit distant and never approached me on their own, maybe it was because of the time I spent alone during breaks, maybe I just missed everything at home. Maybe it was everything at once. I can't say exactly.

Clara was there for me every day and comforted me, and eventually she told me that no one here cares how I feel. No one is interested in me and what I do. Here, I have to take the first step because others won't do it on their own. And that really motivated me. The following days, I stayed with Clara and her friends during breaks, and then I started spending breaks with two girls from Spain. The two were named Marina, who is also an exchange student, and Gabriella, who recently moved to Scotland with her mother and siblings. Most of the time, we would just sit somewhere, eat, and talk, but I felt incredibly comfortable and like part of the group. The two were really great. At the moment, I spend most of my breaks with Imke (an ironic and sarcastic cookie whose hair looks like she stuck her finger in a socket), because I can laugh and have fun with her.

On weekends, we have gone ice skating twice, visited the National Gallery, hiked up Arthur's Seat and had a little picnic at the top, walked around the city, sat in the park, and went to the beach.

So far, I've had a wonderful time here and can hardly believe that I've been here for more than a month already. I enjoy spending time with my friends and especially with Clara. I will miss her a lot when she flies back on January 6th. She is an incredibly amazing sister and even if I could, I wouldn't want anyone else. She is perfect and I can talk to her about anything. She comforts me and is always there for me.

I'm really happy here.