To my study abroad mates,
I am writing you this letter to show my appreciation for the things you taught me while I was abroad. My semester in Nottingham, England was an experience I will never forget because of the friendships I made with you all. This letter is a formal thank you to you and hopefully an incentive for other students to study abroad in college and have the wonderful memories that I did.
Thank you for accepting my American ways and teaching me to evaluate my own culture as well as become more understanding towards other cultures. I came back from study abroad with a new outlook on my American culture and understood that we are not always "the best" and have improvements in this country we need to work toward, just like everyone else.
Thank you for teaching me what it is like to be an international student. I was grateful to meet people from all over the world — Italy, Africa, Brazil, and Australia to name a few. Before studying abroad, I understood diversity and was aware of it, but this experience brought a whole new meaning to the term. My university in England was ten times as big as my small liberal arts college in Oregon. I was always surrounded by different cultures, languages, peoples and customs. You taught me that it's good to be different and while diversity seems to separate us as people a lot of the time, it really should bring us closer together.
Thank you for actually being the best friends. I am so thankful for technology where I can still stay in touch with all of you — even if they have to be Skype calls at three in the morning. Thank you time difference. You brought me out of my comfort zone and taught me to reach out to the international students at my own college. Being an international student is scary at first, but when you find genuine friends like I did in England, you feel at home. These are friends I plan on visiting and staying in touch with for the rest of my life. Many students who go abroad focus on traveling or studying, which don't get me wrong, I still was productive with exploring and my school work, but what I took back most from my time there was the relationships I made and the beautiful people I met.
I know it's cliché and everyone tells you "omg you need to study abroad it's the best experience ever," but it really is. You may take away different memories and experiences than I did, but I think it's important to become open-minded and appreciative of other cultures. This mindset will help develop your interactions with others and build a common respect for each other where there is no right or wrong culture. Cultures are unique and by becoming more conscious of our experience with others and learning from one another, we can make the world a more peaceful place.
I think about all of you each and every day. The things you have taught me and the friendships you have given me I will cherish forever. I know I will see you all again real soon.
Much love,
J
