Many times I have wondered if moving away from my native country just so that I could pursue my dream of studying in the US was a good idea. Luckily, all those times the answer has been “YES!” Here are 4 reasons why I love being an international student:

1. Making long lasting friendships (This might sound a little too cheesy but it’s a 100% legit)

You definitely go through times -such as birthdays and holidays- when you just wish your family was right beside you. Fortunately, through all those moments, your friends are the ones who will make you feel as if home wasn’t so far away. And believe me when I say that after a while, they become more like an amazing extension of your family.

2. Higher education

Coming from a place like Mexico, where certain situations aren’t so great, studying in the US seemed unreal to me. And yeah, you definitely have to bust your ass and take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way… but it’s so worth it!

3. The food

After three years of living away from my hometown, I have realized that the only thing you’ll ever miss more than your family is the food from your country (Mom if you’re reading this I’m sorry, I love you). But on the bright side? You’ll probably end up falling deeply in love –and feel guilty about it- with one –or more- of the most American foods you can think of. For me, it was Tex-Mex dishes, which FYI, are nothing like Mexican food, but that doesn’t make me love them any less.

4. Valuing the people who are waiting for you back at home (Too cheesy again? Probably)

Being miles and miles away from my hometown has been undeniably hard. However, it has given me the chance to truly value my family and everything they do for me. Sometimes I wish could go back home more than just twice a year. But the truth is that it doesn’t really matter how many times a year I visit my family, because even if it was just for an instant, the feeling of running across the airport to finally meet with the people that I love the most, is something that I wouldn’t trade for the world.

Moving to the US to get a better education has changed me in so many ways that I can definitely say it has been the best thing that ever happened to me. And undoubtedly, there are way more than four reasons why I could never regret making this decision.