I have been a host sister to over 20 exchange students. Growing up with and around exchange students has expanded my horizons and inspired me to build a career in community relations, international education, and volunteer management. I have seen first hand the impact that exchange students and their hosting communities can have on each other. It is through my global family that I have learned to always keep my mind open to new ideas and opportunities.

It may come as no surprise that I love to travel and to meet new people. I believe the best way to learn about the world is through meeting people from different backgrounds.

However, I believe more strongly in getting lost, i.e. book, latest netflix binge, history or geographically. I am not ashamed to admit that I am very geographically challenged and will regularly get lost. GPS and google maps are my best friends and I always plan accordingly when going someplace new of the inevitability of my getting lost. Yes, I am constantly trying to improve my sense of direction but I have also come to love this slight flaw. What I have learned about getting lost is the amazing treasures I have found and the ability to be in the moment. I love driving or walking with no particular destination in mind, just going in the direction my car or feet lead me. It allows me to let my constantly thinking mind to wander and explore new ideas or just leave my mind blank and enjoy the moment. The physical outcome is that I find new shortcuts or realize that this is a terrible route to work. In learning to embrace this flaw, it has now become one of my favorite parts of me.

The best story I have about getting lost was when I first studied abroad in 2009. I did a six week intensive German course at the Goethe Institute in Dusseldorf, Germany and stayed with an amazing host family. I would have classes in the morning and my afternoons free. Nearly everyday, I would leave class, pick a direction and eventually find my way back to my host family's house. It was a common phrase of my host parents to ask me "Und wohin bist du heute gegangen?" (and where did you go today) and were always surprised at the neighborhoods I walked through, usually because they were in the opposite direction of home and was the reason why it would take me the entire afternoon to get home. It was so much fun walking and experiencing the city, I really started to feel apart of the city and not just a tourist.