How close can you become with a group of people in five months? That’s easy… In just five months, a group of strangers can become your family. That’s what happened to me when I studied abroad in Valencia, Spain in the spring of 2015.
In the beginning of January, I got on a plane with a few other students from my university, leaving behind everything and everyone else I knew. I had no idea what to expect. I had never been to Europe before, and I certainly hadn’t been put in a situation where I had to completely rebuild my community from the ground up. There were going to be language barriers and cultural barriers, and I was being pushed entirely out of my comfort zone.
When I arrived, I knew I had no time to waste making friends. In both my residency and language school, I began introducing myself to the students around me. It was intimidating at first, but somehow, not even really realizing it, these people became my family on the other side of the Atlantic ocean.
My study abroad friends will always be some of the most important people in my life, so here are some things I would like to thank them for:
1. Thank you for welcoming me with open arms.
A lot of you already knew each other by the time I got there because you had already been studying there for several weeks or even several months. Regardless, you introduced me to even more people, helped me to get to know the city, and included me in your after-class and weekend plans.
2. Thank you for going on spontaneous late night dinners and bar outings with me.
Sometimes the food at the residency just wasn’t what we wanted. Whether we went to the Paulaner next door, or 100 Montaditos for fifty cent sandwiches, or to random sushi restaurants around the city, we always found great places to eat. And no matter what day of the week it was, we couldn’t end our day without finding a bar for some Spanish sangria.
3. Thank you for including me in your crazy travel plans, and letting me include you in mine.
I’ll never forget the day I got a random text from you guys telling me I had 30 minutes to decide whether or not I was going to Portugal. I decided I was going in less than 5, and I’m so happy I did. I’ll also never forget the time I picked a really bad hostel in Germany, so we left and were homeless in Munich for a few hours. I am so grateful for all of the beautiful places I got to see and even more grateful for the friends who came with me.
4. Thank you for dancing with me until sunrise.
Whether it was a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night, we always found someplace awesome to dance the night away… and usually got Erasmus perks, too! Taking salsa lessons at Erasmus Night, jamming on the roof at L’Umbracle, and having dance offs in El Carmen are all moments I will never forget.
5. Thank you for embracing the laid-back lifestyle with me.
Seriously. This may sound silly, but I’m a busy girl and taking time to slow down has always been a personal challenge. Sitting down for breakfast and talking until it was time for lunch wasn’t easy at first. Neither was wandering the streets of the old city center with no direction. I came to love this way of life though, and when things get crazy at school I think about this and remind myself it’s okay to slow down sometimes.
6. Thank you for teaching me about your countries and cultures.
Being in a classroom with people from all over the world was an incredible experience! It was so much fun to hear about how your countries worked, and you made me reflect on my own home culture when you pointed out the way I did certain things. I learned how to say hello in more languages than just Spanish, and we never ran out of new things to talk about.
7. Thank you for being there when being away from home wasn’t easy.
It’s rough having allergies at home. It’s even worse having allergies when you don’t know the medical terms in Spanish to describe how you feel and you don’t have what you need. It’s also hard to see all your best friends from home getting together for spring break when you are on the other side of the world. But you know what’s great? Friends who have your back no matter what, and that’s you! Studying abroad has so many ups, but just like anything else, it also has its downs. I am so appreciative of the wonderful support system I had while I was far away from home.
8. Thank you for staying up through the night to see me off to the airport.
As anyone who has studied abroad knows, leaving your new home is one of the hardest things you will ever have to do. Not knowing when you’ll be back, and knowing that even when you come back it won’t ever quite be the same. You made my last night in Valencia awesome, though, going out for one last night of drinks, surprising my showing up at the residency, and staying up through the night until my taxi arrived to take me to the airport.
9. Thank you for always being up to phone calls and FaceTimes when I’m homesick for my life abroad.
Reverse culture shock is so real, and even after being back home for awhile, the homesickness for your life abroad can be overwhelming. I’m so lucky to know that you’re just a text, phone call, or Snapchat away when I want to talk endlessly about the small details that made our semester incredible.
10. Thank you for being some of the most important people in my life.
There’s something about the bond you form with friends abroad that you just can’t find elsewhere. Whether we’re at the same university or on the other side of the world, I’m so grateful for our friendship!
