We all know that feeling of arriving in a foreign country at the start of studying abroad. It’s exciting and thrilling and oddly comparative to freshman year all over again. Everyone is anxious to make friends and ready to create lifelong memories. There are always people you click with, but sometimes, there is one person who you immediately know is your perfect study abroad buddy. The two of you could take on any country fearlessly. They are irreplaceable because of all the amazing experiences you’ve had together. Here are some reasons why you should probably thank them:

1. Making me venture outside of my comfort zone

Although we were already outside our comfort zones in a foreign country, sometimes, I just wanted to stay cozy in bed. Thank you for dragging me out of my room to explore my beautiful surroundings and helping me take advantage of every second we had.

2. Leading the way when I am completely lost

Let’s be honest—I am horrible with directions, and that’s something we established within the first 30 minutes of meeting each other. Thank you for having a better internal compass than me. I’m sure we would still be in Amsterdam without it.

3. Listening and giving me objective advice about my life

Since you didn’t know any of my friends or family, it was easy for you to tell me what I was not seeing. Thank you for listening to me and always being ready to tell me what you thought.

4. Trying new food with me

Some of it was visually unidentifiable, but we tried it anyway, and it paid off because the majority of it was delicious. Thank you for being brave enough to take the first bite.

5. Binging on carbs with me

Along with the above mentioned, we ate our fair share of croissants, chocolate croissants, pasta, donuts, waffles, fries/chips… Thank you for indulging with me in the excellent food we discovered on all of our adventures, even if it meant eating carbs for two days straight.

6. Encouraging me when I was homesick

They were inevitable, the days where I missed the comfort of my own bed, familiar language and surroundings, and pets. Thank you for pushing through those days with me and bringing me chocolate when necessary.

7. Taking photos of me and with me at landmarks

Whether I wanted to admit it or not, the photos were always for me more than my parents. We saw some amazing sights together, and I am so glad you were there to take photo evidence of them (instead of some random stranger). Thank you for the memories we made all over the world.

8. Struggling through another language with me

It honestly became a toss-up whether we understood the language or not, even when we went to English-speaking countries. Maybe the reason we ate so many croissants was because we could only say “Bonjour, croissant, s'il vous plaît." Thank you for laughing with me when we butchered different languages and tried to communicate by hand signals.

9. Helping me look on the positive side

If it was cold and grey out, you said “at least it’s not raining." You helped me stay positive and calm when I wanted to panic (and rightfully should have). Thank you for being the optimistic one.

10. Constantly seeking adventure with me

Most of all, thank you for accompanying me on all of our crazy adventures. You were always ready to explore, and together we handled whatever life threw at us. I am so thankful to have met you and I will never forget the experiences we had together.