Flourishing Friendships

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One of the hardest parts of studying abroad isn’t leaving the country, it’s leaving the people who made it feel like home.

One thing I don’t think people talk about enough is how difficult it can be to find meaningful friendships in college. It’s very possible, I have experienced that, but it takes time, which can make finding friends abroad nerve-racking. Studying abroad throws you into a room full of strangers, but it also places you alongside people who are searching for the exact same thing you are: community. Looking back, those friendships became the best part of my experience.

Finding friends can be nerve-wracking, but I promise that if you put yourself out there, join the clubs, go on the random outings, say yes to coffee after class, and start conversations, you’ll find the people who make this place feel like home. 

As I reflect, I went through a few friendships that, if I had read this before going abroad, I would have felt so much better about finding friends. 

During your unforgettable adventure….

You’ll find a friend like Emma, who sits with you through every emotion and is always ready for a spontaneous adventure.

You’ll find a friend like Tamana, who reminds you of home as you bond over cultural foods you miss most.

You’ll find friends like Jemima and Ruby, who somehow make sociology tutorials one of the highlights of your week.

You’ll find a friend like Callie, who’s always down for a run, a swim, or any active adventure.

You’ll find a friend like Alessia, who makes a two-hour lecture feel like twenty minutes.

You’ll find friends like Keona and Robin, who make Bible study feel warm, familiar, and a little like home.

You’ll find friends like Abraham, James, Dan, Eric, Daniel, and Mez, who challenge you to grow in your faith while introducing you to every random Aussie snack imaginable.

You’ll find a friend like Emma, who saves you a seat beside her at church when you’re nervous to go alone.

You’ll find a friend like Joana, who can spend hours talking about Australia’s incredible wildlife.

You’ll find friends like Vicky, Len, and Rosalie, who choose to do the hard things right alongside you.

I could go on and on

It honestly amazes me that I boarded a plane knowing almost no one, and now I’m leaving, already planning when we’ll all see each other again.

But there’s one thing I wish someone had told me before I came abroad.

While it’s important to put yourself out there and try new things, don’t lose yourself in the process. You must stay true to yourself!

I remember wondering whether I needed to become someone different to make friends. Did I have to enjoy nightlife? Did I have to say yes to everything? Was there something about me that needed to change?

The simple answer was no.

The friendships that have meant the most to me came when I showed up exactly as myself.

So yes, try the new foods. Visit the new places. Say yes to adventures. Learn, grow, and mature to be the best version of yourself in those friendships.

But if going out isn’t your thing, that’s okay.

If church is important to you, get plugged into a local church.

If running, hiking, board games, coffee shops, or Bible studies are where you feel most like yourself, spend your time there.

When you place yourself in the communities that reflect who you are, you’ll naturally meet people who pour into you in the ways you’ve been hoping for.

I know it can feel scary, especially if you’re studying abroad without knowing anyone beforehand. I certainly felt that way.

But I promise, you will find your people.

You’ll laugh together, grow together, and before you know it, complete strangers will become some of your closest friends.

And one day, you’ll find yourself sitting on the other side of your semester, wondering how saying goodbye to people you’ve only known for a few months could be one of the hardest parts of coming home.

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