Chasing the Soul

My heart wanted to have a free soul. A soul that chases the dreams of her heart. I have been looking out for a sign that say you are independent and free to move. But, this is not right. Something is not fair. It was my culture who has kept me bound by itself.

 It was always in my mind why can' t do this or why can't I do that? Hanging out with friends was far, far away from my thoughts. It was not related to my family it was related to my society. The society; who I was a part of. I had a chance to live my life for a year as I wanted. I was allowed to hangout with friends, play when I want, watch television, play on Wii, slack off from work. It was a chance to try all those adventurous stuff, I had dreamed for. A year without any anyone looking out for you.
 This is not morally fine either. Right? For all those who asked me questions how did I do in America? What I did? How I spent my days and some irritable, annoying questions. (Not all of them are stupid questions). This blog is dedicated to them.

In short, I was placed in Troy, Missouri first then I moved to Salem, Missouri. My host family was changed once due to not getting mutually understand each other. Being different is good but being to much different which would count as weird is not so good! Well, moving on. I got a family whom I can rely on. A family who I called a family after my natural family. Although my host family was not rich as shown in American movies, it's just a stereotype about them. Saying this from what I have experienced.

Coming back to my host family. I had a host dad name ''Brian Inman''. The hilarious one; just like my real father whom I can fully trust on and can share anything with him. We would talk with each other for hours and can not be bored. I think, I would not get bored. There was so much to tell him. Our culture was so different from each other. He has always advised me and try to correct me. Unfortunately my little brain is just messed up. I forgets things pretty easily. He taught me fishing, swimming (not really) actually he threw me in water with a life jacket on with a believe that ''I will not drown''. He was so funny. Moreover he taught me riding four wheeler (secretly) on my request. We went for frog gigging. It was the scariest but fun experience ever. I can't forget that day. Everything was covered with darkness and we were with flash lights trying to blind frogs. He would teach me how to sing songs and taught me how to whistle but it was an epic fail. I was so horrible. I still am. But I miss all those days.

My host mom, ''Nancy''. She is just apple of an eye of everyone. She is a good cook plus she manages her kitchen greatly. She always tease me by saying ''clean as you go''. One day I cooked Biryani for host family. I did not turn out pretty good because I was out of some spices. Well, what can we expect from a county side. It's okay. Well, after that the whole kitchen was just a disaster. She did not yell at me for messing up with kitchen although I cleaned it afterwards but I learned the lesson of ''Clean as you go''. I miss her sometimes and all the lessons she has taught me. Before going to bed we always gave hug to each other. That was really so sweet. Sometimes we would misunderstand each other but it's a part of our life. We move on.

Salem High school was the school I went; I graduated from. SHS gave me lot of love, respect, memories. Me and my best friend of America, LIEN MAI NGYEN fromVietnam. My 4th sister. We would do some crazy exchange students stuff together and everyone would appreciate it. Salem's people are very warm welcoming people. Some of them were racist too beside them everyone is love. I would say it was just a very small town for a girl who has lived her life in a city. I miss my very first high school too. TROY BUCHANAN too but it was in a fate to move to different location.

P.S: I had a host family, A coordinator,  A great Regional director, host family's friends and my friends to look after me and keeping an eye on me.

Coming back to the story, I had a chance to be a rotten egg in that freedom of religion and culture's country but I choose not to. The culture is inside you not relying on the society. Yes, society means a lot to everyone and we should not do anything against it. Besides that man's will also matters a lot. We can not loose our true identity in order to gain society's praising words. People loves to talk behind back. They backbite, they gossip but is it what you want? No, then seek what you like for your own sake. No matter where you travel in this world every Country has their own culture and traditions; what I have learnt through my exchange year can not be defined in words. Especially I can not defined it myself but the very first lesson, I learnt is respecting those cultures and diversity without losing your true identity.