When I was 14 I was very determinately trying to move abroad. The easiest way was an exchange year. I was way too young but I had already filled out all application, written all the letters, collecting all pictures for the personal presentation even though there was 2 years before I could even be allowed to go.
I decided to go to the US. My dream was the east coast preferably NYC or Boston. The Teenage Malin was dreaming about preppy high schools and Ivy. I highlighted all interests that could be suitable – Sailing, Swimming, Golf and Horseriding. To not end up on the countryside I applied as allergic to animals and with citylike interests such as Theater, Concerts and Opera. I just had one main concern – Please don’t send me to San Francisco (clearly stated in my application of course). The picture from the 1989 earthquake was still fresh in my mind.
I have to smile when I think about it.
It all went well in the end. There were no more earthquakes. And I had a great year. I convinced my parent to pay an extra fee so I could be placed in a school on the east coast. Somehow the exchange program divided the US fairly rough and I ended up spending a year in Ohio. The real, and very average state.
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By the way: The catastrophe on the Bay Bridge in 1989 did not, incredibly enough, cost one single life. Pretty amazing knowing that 75000 cars daily pass this part of the bridge.
2 Comments on “San Francisco”
Hilarious! Don’t you want to beat yourself up for not wanting to go to SF and ending up in the Midwest? I bet your application inspired those people that screened it to be creative in where to send you… ;-)
My first place in the US was Iowa… I cried for the first week in my dorm room. I couldn’t believe I had to live in that place surrounded by fields for two years. But I ended up loving it at the end of the two years. It has a charm of its own, even though I can’t see myself living there in the long term… Oh human adaptation.
Ohio was great! It was a perfect introduction to the US.
Luckily I had matured a bit when the application was possible to send out two years later. The fear for earthquakes was not mentioned.