It was 2009 and there I was sitting in my second period of Geography class, sophomore year. As Mr. Aurand was going on about shapes or angles, or whatever else you learn in Geography, I was doing some day dreaming. Staring at who knows what, I was thinking about a more exciting life and ways I could make it happen. I was so tired of being in my small town and I wanted to get away and go do things nobody around me was doing. Then it hit me. I wanted to be a foreign exchange student. Just to let you know, being a foreign exchange student wasn’t just something kids in my town did. There had only been one other person at my school to have done it.
When I got home on that same day, I told my mom what I wanted to do. The most important thing was that she didn’t say no, but she wasn’t entirely on board either. She wanted to learn more about the programs and how it happens first, then we could decide. So I did what I had to do and found out as much as I could.
Ignoring all of the boring details, I finally came across the Rotary Club. They seemed to have a reputable program and wasn’t looking to just get money from people. They also had an amazing support system and some weekend events to gather all of the exchange students together in the area to prepare us and start out adventure.
By the time I had applied, I was already late in the process. They were just about done accepting students in my district, but luckily they let us schedule an interview. That very day they told me I was accepted! Then they had me pick my top five countries I wanted to go to. After a couple months of waiting and various emails back and forth, I finally received the email stating the country I was going to. I got my third pick, The Netherlands!
That was one of the happiest days of my life. I couldn’t believe that it was all happening. I couldn’t have been happier about my parents letting me go either. It was perfect that I got The Netherlands because my parents had lived there previously while my father was in the military and my brother was born there. Now it was my turn.
Fast forward a few months after various meetings, events, fundraisers, and tenth grade. I was finally going. I was 15 years old, going to a foreign country by myself for a year. Isn’t that freaking awesome!? Now when I think back, I’m like how could my parents ever let me do that haha, but I am oh so glad they did.
During my year in The Netherlands and Europe I had so many firsts. Being in an airplane, sailing in the North Sea, eating Herring, learning to ski in the Austrian Alps, taking a Polar Plunge on New Years, my first beer, traveling to the major cities of Europe. The list goes on and on.
While I miss the big life changing experiences, it’s the little things that I tend to think and miss more often. The little day to day things like hanging out with the friends I made, riding the train to Amsterdam, walking along the canals, riding my bike everyday, getting ice cream at the local store. It just made me feel so free and alive. Six years later, I still honestly can’t believe that at 15-16 years old I, Patric Moore, from small town Pennsylvania got to experience all of that. And I can say with certainty there has not been one day that’s gone by since I’ve been back in the states where I haven’t thought about my time over there.
I miss it so much and I’d like to go back as soon as possible! My trouble over the last two years has been that when I plan trips I end up just pushing them back because I don’t have a way to hold me accountable. It truly sucks and I’m missing out on a ton of stuff. That’s what I love about the blog though. I have a better way of holding myself accountable even for trips that I plan on taking.
So, I’m going to take a trip next year. I don’t know where and I don’t know exactly when, but I’m going to do it. I’ll be sure to give you all more details about it as well and maybe one or more of you could even join along!