The purpose behind the \u201cstudent cultural exchange program<\/strong>\u201dor “exchange year”<\/strong>, as it is known officially, is to learn about people from foreign countries and from other cultures, in the strictest meaning of the phrase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is an ‘Exchange Year'?<\/h2>\n\n\n

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The project was clear to me: to have contact with a culture different to yours, which you were born and raised. The people of your host country may have very different opinions than you about many topics; but in the end, learning about this differences will definitely enrich you and the life you have left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The invisible barrier<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Today, the undisputed king of languages is english. Speaking this language will allow to travel to many places and communicate with people from different cultures. But here is an unfortunate catch: it won't help you integrate in your target culture. Which means, it is not enough by itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being in a meeting with foreigner friends is a clear example. They will be talking in the foreign language and if you don't speak their language, they will translate you a few times before it gets tedious. Plus, some expresions can't be fully translated without losing their meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One unseen bonus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, the exchange year will also help you learn to speak a language. By living among the people of your host country, you will learn the idioms, expressions and how to communicate in a new way. If you go to a country, where english isn't the native language, you shouldn't worry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The story behind my Exchange Year<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In my family, all my brothers (older than me) went aboard in an exchange year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

• 1 went to San Francisco, USA<\/a>.<\/li>
• 2 went to Preston, England<\/a>.<\/li>
• 1 went to Hameln, Germany<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

  In my parents words, “go and see a part of the world”. All I needed to know, is which country should I go to?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Why Germany as the Exchange Year Host Country?<\/h3>\n\n\n

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  For almost one year, from august 2008 to july 2009, I went to Germany as an exchange student. I lived in K\u00f6ln (Cologne), K\u00fcrten and Ahaus. All three cities offered different contrasts which enriched my experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Why did I decide to go and live among the germanic tribes<\/a>? I will leave it for another blog post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  Best Trip (Demo)<\/a><\/blockquote>