Language Camp is the Brussel Sprout of Your Rotary Exchange Meal

Language camp doesn't have to be awful. It is what you make of it, as cheesy as that is. Yes, there are communal bathrooms that leak/don't have faucets/don't have toilet paper and yes there is a possibility the mosquito population is at an all time high because of an inordinate amount of rain in the area, but there are also friends you could swear you've had your whole life and there are lessons that stick with you more than you know, both making you happier than you'd think.

Basically, language camp is a brussel sprout. It can be the worst part of your meal and be awful, or if it's done right can be surprisingly pleasant (not to mention good for you; eat your vegetables kids!) If you sit around thinking about how awful eating your brussel sprouts is gonna be, wait till they're stone cold, and are determined to think they're gross there's no way you can enjoy them. But, if you take advantage of every opportunity to eat good brussel sprouts, acknowledge that they could be better but overall they're edible, and basically eat what you're given with a positive attitude, you'll never have a disappointing meal.

The message one should take from my food metaphors (which I acknowledge are a bit of a stretch) is that language camp got really enjoyable when I got off my butt, out of my cabin, and accepted my situation. Arriving somewhere after 20+ hours of travel and being told to wait for lessons to start was a little too much to handle. Lessons themselves were a little too much to handle too at first. Usually I balk at people who say to "let go" of your stress, or to "embrace education without worrying about grades" but that is exactly what I'm recommending for anyone in a similar situation.  I probably won't even listen to my own advice once my school year here starts, but I actually learned a lot of Hungarian when I stopped worrying about writing down every little thing and started just listening and asking questions.

So, basically, accept that you have to go to language camp before you can go off on your exchange adventure, and accept that you have to eat your brussel sprouts before you can have any chocolate cake. Metaphor over! *bows*