Aspect Foundation’s inbox is flooded with notes from students expressing their gratitude for the experience they have had on student exchange. On Thursdays, we post one of these notes, sharing the “warm fuzzies” with all of you!

Charlene from Belgium (far right) smiles with other Utah exchange students at welcome orientation.

Dear organization that helped me realize my dream,

Before explaining all that happened to me, I want to thank you for all that you did for me. Living here in the United States is something I always wanted to do, and you helped me for that. Thank you.

So much incredible things happened. I didn’t only discover a new country, but I also discovered a new way to live, a new way to love, and a lot of amazing and kind people.

Strangers became friends, my host family became my second family. I realize how lucky I am to have landed in an amazing family. They are always ready to help me, to do what can make me happy. My host brother and sisters are so nice and funny. I already have a lot of amazing memories with them. And I’m sure these memories will last forever.

I am also really lucky to have landed in this amazing place. Where everybody is so nice and kind to each other. I live in a small country. Coming from Brussels to here is a big difference. But I am so lucky to have the opportunity to live this experience. The views are just so wonderful, and waking up every morning and seeing this beautiful mountains is the best feeling ever. Waking up for going to school isn’t a challenge at all for me, it is a wonderful part of my day.

I’m so lucky my school is so great. Everybody is respectful. Everybody see me as someone so incredible because I come from another country. That make me feel so special. I love how they always try to make me feel comfortable. They are always ready to help me. It is a really great opportunity and grateful gift to be here. Sometimes I think it would be better to live in a bigger house, in a bigger country. But then I feel so sad because I wouldn’t have met all these great people and I wouldn’t be in the amazing family. So I realize I don’t want to change my place for anything. I feel so good here. Most people have told me that the three first month would be difficult, that I would miss my Belgian family. I don’t have this feeling at all. I just sometimes feel bad only by thinking I would have to leave this place and all these great people. I feel like I’m home here.

Thank you to have giving me the world!!!
– Charlene from Belgium