Clara from Argentina at a local parade in Washington.

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!

Today’s Thank You Thursday features Clara from Argentina, who expresses her thanks for her year abroad in Washington.

My exchange student year was everything. I’m so grateful for everything that happened this year. I could never ask for a better host family, American friends, school, everything. I can’t explain what I feel. I’m excited to go home and see my mom again but at the same time I don’t want to leave America! I made a special bond with so many nice people who opened their hearts even when I didn’t know how to speak English very well.

I will never forget any of them. I will always keep them in my heart. And I hope I could see them again soon. Thank you so much to everyone who made me have the most amazing experience in my whole life. I think that an exchange student year is something you can’t understand unless you’ve been through it. I think an exchange student year is growing up, realizing that everybody is the same, no matter where they’re from.

-Clara from Argentina, in Washington

Interested in sharing YOUR corner of the world with an international exchange student? Learn more about becoming a host family at: http://aspectfoundation.org/host-families.

A few of Clara’s favorite photos from her year in Washington.