For one Am-Po sophomore, this Christmas will be her first with a new family.

In fact, the holiday season brings about the culmination of a semester full of firsts for MinJung Jin, a 16-year-old South Korean exchange student who has lived most of this school semester with Jim and Charlotte Dyer of Pocasset.

Min witnessed her first rock concert, cheered for the first time at a football game, played in a softball game for the first time, and donned a Halloween costume for the first time.

And tomorrow, she'll witness an American Christmas first-hand for the first time.

She said Christmas is not as big of a holiday in Korea. She said she gets the day off from school on Christmas, but instead of spending time with family, she hangs out with friends. This Christmas will be the first time she has had a tree with so many presents under it.

Min has experienced a whirlwind of American culture since she arrived in January. She said she was able to focus on learning English and American culture, but she learned a lot about who she is more than anything else.

"I think I really get more active...more independence, kind of brave," she said. "I hope [my family] can see me as a different person."

She said that, early in her trip, she would sometimes feel overwhelmed and stressed out, but as she packs her bags and readies to fly across the Pacific she wishes a year was longer.

On Monday, she will head home to Seoul, the South Korean capital city. Even though she is ready to see her biological family, Min said she will never forget the bonds she has formed with her host families.

"When I first got here, I was like, 'How can I get through it?,' " she said. "Now, I hope I could stay longer."

In Korea there is a much greater focus on work, which decreases the time families spend together, she said.

She said she enjoys the closeness of American families.

Min first lived with Angela Freeman and her children in Chickasha, but after a few months Min decided she wanted to attend a smaller school. Min soon found herself living in Pocasset with the Dyer family and attending Am-Po High School. Jim, Charlotte and their two children, Danielle and Dylan, accepted Min into their home with open arms.

Charlotte said she had always wanted to host an exchange student but her husband always stalled.

"But once there was a name to it and not just an exchange student, he couldn't say no," she said.

Dylan, 18, said he too was against it at first but ended up enjoying Min's stay.

"I've had the most fun with it," he said.

He took it upon himself to teach his new sister how to have attitude and dish out sarcasm.

"The first thing the kids taught her was 'bring it on sucka,' " Charlotte said.

Sunday the Dyer's will host a farewell party for Min. Danielle said they expect most of the sophomore, junior and senior classes to attend to send Min on her way.

Even though Min was not at Am-Po long, she has left an impact on the school.

She was the first exchange student to take agriculture classes and the first to be named the school carnival's princess.

She was extremely popular among her peers, and teachers said she was their best student.

Min returns to South Korea for three remaining years of high school. She, like most high school sophomores, does not know what she wants to do.

She does not know where the future will take her, but she said she will return to visit someday.

Both Min and her host family will be forever changed by the experiences they shared.

"This has been amazing," Charlotte said.

Some tears have been shed in preparing for Min's departure, and many more are expected.

"Both of you are going to be puddles that Dad and I have to mop up off the floor," Dylan said to his mother and sister.