You know that feeling of being in the zone?
Where nothing else matters but living the moment and appreciating all the life is throwing at you?
This is how we were all feeling when we headed to Jeffrey's Bay to kickstart our surf lessons.
Hey guys! Something that you need to do when you come to Jeffrey’s Bay is get surfing lessons,
and we are really tired. Like, we had a lot of fun last night.
Leticia doesn’t even know how to swim, but she’s like really, really excited.
I am very excited. But I trust my friends that they won’t let me drown...
We’re getting surf lessons right now, and we’re very excited... We’re putting on our gear right now and look at that!
We already knew each other so well, we've found the right ways to speak to each other, appreciating and respecting ourselves..
That it was the time to jump into the ocean.
So, we are going to surf now and it’s going to be... amazing!
Really nice! It’s my first time surfing!
Actually, that was the coolest thing ever, I think. They were very nice.
For some of us, it was the first time surfing. After taking some teaching, it was time to face our fears and get into the water
We had so much fun, learning from our falls, helping each other and cheering every time one of us could stand up, just like real friends do.
Heading out of the beach made us realize that our roadtrip was reaching its end.
Not the experience, though. That experience won't ever, ever end.
It's hard to describe this feeling,
but the impact of spending these days with the group, sharing and learning from each other, goes way beyond the amazing times we had in South Africa.
We've been confronted with the fact that this is the nature of life:
We can't control the course of life, and the horizons in life are only as wide as we're willing to see.
And once you've been through a journey like this,
it's impossible to ignore the difference that makes being part of an international community.
I’m writing my message for future generations coming to this school.
I didn’t know what to write, so I just write what my heart feels right now with all of this experience.
We are painting for after... we write messages to the new students that come here, new students, travellers....
They will have a piece of what we got here.
Today we have peeled this tree off to leave a message for people who are coming after us...
if they see the video they’ll probably remember us and I hope they feel the same that we did, and the same good experience,
and that they have a lot of good friends, like we did.
I already told everything that I wanted to say, because we all feel the same about everything that we get,
and I think this will be a really nice memory for all of us and l the other people that come here, and when they watch this video I hope,
I don’t know, it inspires you, I-m not sure, I hope everybody likes it, loves it, cause we are having so much fun.
Think I’m trying to do a Turkish flag, but it's supposed to be red... but it's pink, it’s supposed to be red!
A bit like the old tree in the middle of Africa, we've all opened ourselves to the changes and impact that our lives take from such an experience
- and we made sure to leave a message to the ones to come!.
To round things up, we decided to sit around the bonfire and share with each other our thoughts about this experience.
Wherever you are in the world, whatever your next destination is...
the emotional journey of living abroad and being part of an international community will always require you to Discover new things and places,
to understand differences and similarities....
When I first came here and met you guys, I was kind of nervous, because new meeting people from different countries...
it was like socializing a lot,
and it was too much for me. And I am so glad I met you all of you guys. It was really the best experience I could ever have!
I love you all guys!
I think it’s actually the same for all of us, because you know, I also thought it was going to be hard to...
so yeah, it was seriously one of the best times I have ever had. I will miss you guys, I will all miss you.
I was really afraid that I wouldn’t enjoy the trip because I'm, as Mervan said, I like knowing people, but I don’t like socializing stuff..
And you guys made everything so easy. We are so different, but we were so connected during the trip.
And that’s why I love exchange programs. That’s why I’m here doing my content, because I believe on this.
The moments of my life like meeting you and having all the experience out of my countries, without any people that I really know around me,
I have to do everything new and have new experiences, and I’m sure I will be back home completely different thanks to you. Thank you.
I just want to say that I just had the best time of my life. This is one of the trips that I will treasure in my heart forever.
I hate making new friends, because if I like people, I get too attached.
And the best part of this trip was meeting you all and doing all these great things together, because it was a great team.
I didn’t feel uncomfortable at any point with you guys.
We did amazing things that I think only good friends do together. Besides, we were stuck in the van so much time, so many smells went in that van...
and so much heat, and so much people and so much food...
I had the best time of my life. It’s a really great way to trip and I thank you guys for that.
We had so many nice experiences, I’ve never had before. Actually, I’ve never get to meet so many people from other countries,
but the special thing is how we bond together very well
that’s what Marcela said before, We’re sitting on the table and eating like we’re a family.
I’m really going to miss you, I don’t even want to say goodbye to you anymore. It’s so hard!
I love you all guys, you’re invited all to visit me, and I’m inviting myself to visit you too, ok? And of course, let’s make a reunion soon.
This trip is the best experience of my life too. I love so much adrenaline. I love meeting new people, really,I love it,
but I don’t trust anyone, you know?
But I trust these friends. I trust you guys, because you’re honest, you’re in love, your heart is very good and I like that. So thank you for everything.
So no matter what it is that takes you out of your comfort zone,
all we can do is to understand that this is a journey and the impact of the people you let in is what is going to transform you,
bit by bit, on the person you are
At the end, it doesn’t matter what takes you out of your comfort zone…
You just need to get out of there and get ready to discover new things, new places, new people that will transform you into the person you want to be….
Just get ready and speak to the world…