Making Friends

By:

Antanisha Vargas

Published:

Countries

Demographics

,

Majors

,

Regions

Antanisha Vargas

<i>Pronouns:</i> She/her <i>Home Institution:</i> Lehman College <i>Expected Graduation:</i> 2024 <i>Major / Minor:</i> Sociology / Economics <i>Study Abroad Location:</i> Seville, Spain <i>"Hello" in your host country's language:</i> Hola <i>Program Provider:</i> CCIS <i>Identity:</i> Hispanic/Latinx, First-Generation American, First-Generation College Student <i>Future Career Goals:</i> I aspire to become a lawyer working with immigrants and refugees to help integrate them to communities within the U.S. where nonphysical borders may be present. <i>Top 3 Goals for your time abroad:</i> I want to immerse myself in a culture that is different of my own, push myself out of the realms of comfortability by meeting new people and having new experiences, and become more independent.

Studying abroad is a special, precious experience. However, it is an adjustment that can be harder for others. Something that made adjusting to life abroad was the wonderful people that I have met here. The friends I have made in my program are people that I feel comfortable venting to about anything and doing anything with. I am beyond grateful that I have met them during my time abroad.

Before coming to study abroad I was anxious about meeting new people and having to put myself out there to make friends. I was coming to a whole different country, completely by myself so that comes with doing things out of the sphere of comfortability, like making new friends. Something I can attest to is that 9 times out of 10, people who study abroad think the same things. Before we all met each other, we did not know if we would get along or clash, or if anyone would even like us and there is comfort in that.

If you are thinking about studying abroad and are worried about making friends, know that it is so easy to make conversations with people. Everyone is looking for friends, so simply saying hi to someone will get the conversation rolling. Everyone will most likely be open minded and be willing to continue conversation with you. There are so many interests that study abroad students share like traveling, for example.