In 2002 at the age of 22 years old like many of you I flew over to the United States of America and spent the year with an incredible host family, the Patten Family in Dallas, Texas, and met the most amazing and diverse culture of friends. To start of this magical trip, I got to spend my first week at Orientation which was hosted near New York City. Immediately I was surrounded with girls from South Africa, Germany, Poland, Peru; Slovakia and I’m sure I’m leaving out a few. Orientation is such a great idea, it’s a time for you to get to know more about the life and culture of America and how their children and what a great way to meet new friends before you start your year. I grew to love my host family especially Kaari who was 1 ½ years old at the time of my arrival. Kaari also had an older brother who was in the US Army serving in Iraq, who I met at a later stage, but I felt at home and my stay was a comfortable one to which the Pattens contributed. I was immediately welcomed by an aupair in my area originally from Germany who became my best friend up till today; Janine has been to visit me for the summer last year in 2006.  I have made friends not only from America and South Africa where my other very good friend Nerissa resides whom I also met in Dallas; but friends from Poland, Czech, Bosnia and Puerto Rico. Dallas doesn’t really stand out to most people I guess but I would definitely recommend it, as you have a little bit of everything in the sense that your in the south so the accent is so awesome, universities and colleges are nearby, everything you need is within radius, the zoo, the swimming pools, the malls, the night life. Oh and YES, there are real cowboys out there. Visiting Fort Worth and doing some line dancing and rodeo is a must on your list. 

I had the privilege of travelling with my host family not just for work but pleasure too. I have been to Florida Walt Disney, Chicago, Las Vegas, Bahamas, Los Angeles Venice Beach and Hollywood, Denver to Ski and one of my favourites, Times Square NYC for New Years only to mention a few. Besides enjoying my travels I thoroughly enjoyed my aupair meetings and my favourite being our Ride-A-Long, where you get to ride a long in a police car with a police officer for a few hours experiencing the real life dramas and excitement of being on patrol. My first baseball game was compliments of my host family, whilst the football game was another one of our aupair meetings. They are a must see.

One of my best challenges which I actually really enjoyed and didn’t mind doing was driving because they drive on the opposite side of the road and I took a real liking to their cars.

It’s really the place to be to experience a white Christmas, thanks giving, Halloween and Easter like no other. No-one can do it like the USA. Unfortunately like everything else, all good things come to an end. Just as sad as it was leaving South Africa, it broke my heart to leave Kaari and my host family behind, a year goes by so quickly and I was so fond of Kaari by then that it was one the saddest days for me. However, we are still in contact on a regular basis and sometimes I can’t believe how Kaari has grown. I was glad to be apart of all that. An experience never to be forgotten, it really is what you make of it.

My dream was always to go to Times Square, NYC and not only did that dream come true but I received so much more in return. I had certain expectations and always knew I wanted to go, my experience was ten times better than I could ever have imagined. It’s an amazing reward, I wish every girl could want and have this experience. Its one of the best things you could do for yourself. Not only do you have the opportunity to travel; study and see what so many others only dream about, but you grow mentally and emotionally as an individual and you will mature in such a way that nothing will seem the same in your eyes when you return. Your appreciation for life is so becoming.

It is natural to get home-sick but I believe in going into this with a good heart, open eyes and being flexible to the opportunities that will arise. Dreams do come true: If I can sum it all up for you:

“Dream what you want to dream

 Go where you want to go

 Be what you want to be

 Because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.”