If I could go back in time and meet the person I was in 2013 I'd say to him Thank You.

Most of the students who leave their homes do so because they have a friend who previously did the same and told them about the experience or because their parents introduced them the idea. I found out about the programme in a different and interesting way. I was chatting with a friend and I was telling her how cool it would be to go to America and attend school there, like in the movies. So I just felt like googling it. From that moment it was like a whole new world opened up to me.

What I'm trying to say is that we gotta take the right choices because it is not just about the present, but it is also about the upcoming future. Going on exchange made me the person I am today. I probably wouldn't even be in Denmark right now if I didn't use google that night.

A few nights ago I received a random call. It was my American dad. "Hello, dad". He said he just wanted to remind me that his wife and he will always support me no matter what path I will take in life. I felt so lucky and glad I couldn't even talk. I wish every single exchange student could feel home in their host country as much as I did. If I could afford the plane ticket I'd fly back every single weekend, even if it takes 20 hours to get there.

It is so awesome to travel everywhere, to settle in different countries every now and then, to love new people etc. and this is why I'd say Thank you little Cris. But there will always be my enemy distance to ruin everything. Because no matter how hard you try to keep in touch with the people you love, you will slowly stop contacting them. It doesn't mean you love them less than you did before, but it just happens, and it sucks. People will also let you down and you will have no one to rely on. Everyone you love will be far away. You'll have to deal with shit all alone, it sucks, doesn't it?

Chris Martin sings "Oh take me back to the start" and sometimes I wish I could do that. Being 16 years old again, flying over the ocean towards the unknown land of the States.

- Cris

Time does change things. Two years ago I would not have thought of moving to Denmark, little I knew of what I wanted to study. But, there are also some things that never change, that is for instance the relationship with people you love, because if you keep loving there is no way time will ruin that. This past weekend was amazing. I was with my american family where I was born and raised. It felt like I never left america, but I actually did not see them for 14 months. We raised our glasses and celebrated family, by blood and by choice.

After seeing them in my homeland I realized that everything is possible. Last year when my american experience came to an end I felt horrible, I didn't trust anyone saying "You will see them soon" because let's face it, when is "soon"? who can define how long "soon" is? Now I really think that if we really want to, we can make things work. I met one of my best friends on a trip in Europe, I met my american parents, I am doing what I wished I could do for months and such.

Two years ago I was living with them in Colorado and now they were walking by my side in Milan, Italy. How cool is this? I feel grateful for everything they did and still do even thought I am not with them anymore. They told me they are proud of me and I couldn't feel happier. I honestly feel sad for the people who did not have them as host parents and had a bad experience instead. I actually read on the internet that some people even regret investing money on an exchange year because they had a hard time and I think it is just too bad. Host parents should be as excited as the students when it comes to the whole experience. As students change over time so do host parents. You are surrounded by new things so it makes it easier to suck up the culture of your host country, but for host parents the only source of learning about your culture is you, this is why you have to be good.

READ ALSO: TRAVELLING BACK TO MY HOST CITY AFTER TWO YEARS.

- Cris