Yes, that’s right. For a portion of the three weeks I communicated with a foreign girl with the use of hand signals, active body motions, and of course, Spanglish.

For the first few days it was like I was babysitting another 17 year old, a 17 year old who could barely understand me. I had to make sure my exchange student, Alejandra, was fed when she was hungry, entertained when she was bored, and asleep when she was tired.

It was tough. There were days when I wished I could just throw in the towel and go home right after school instead of having to wait for the Spaniards to come home from a New York trip at 9 pm.

But I didn’t give up, and I’m so glad that I stuck it out.

The exchange changed me as a person for the better. It taught me how to make new, life lasting friends. It showed me what happened when two cultures collide, and it allowed me to make memories I could only gain from JC exchanges.

I thought Alejandra was just going to be that girl standing awkwardly in a photo with my family. And that’s what it started to look like until we had the light bulb moment in our relationship.

We were watching television one day and Alejandra shared with me that her favorite television show is Gossip Girl, which is my favorite television show .  Thus began an animated conversation filled with laughter and mixed English and Spanish exclamations about our favorite TV show.

This was the end of our awkward moments, the beginning of better communication between us, and the start of our friendship.

Of course, there was still some charade playing, like jumping up and down to convey a trampoline to her, but we began to understand each other and more efficiently communicate. With more communication came more emotional bonding.

I started to realize that the Spaniards weren’t just some students that came over here looking for a place to stay, but they were extensions of our families. Alejandra grew to be like a sister to me.

And with this bonding and friendship, I was able to create memories. Memories that were made possible through an exchange program. I mean, how else would a JC student be able to say that they sat on their everyday American couch with a girl who lived thousands of miles away from them and debated about their favorite television show?

The day the Spaniards left, the parking lot was filled with tears from all students, Spanish and American alike. Hugs went around while everyone tallied up a countdown until we would all see each other again.

For me, it was like I was saying goodbye to a long lost sister.

As the bus pulled away, I remembered what Spanish teacher Jane Michael said to me months ago when I signed up. She told us that the exchange would change us forever and be one of the most memorable experiences at JC and of our entire lives.

And she was right.

Maggie Cassidy is the Print Chief of The Patriot and jcpatriot.com