The ISA JournalCultivating Friendships in a Foreign Country

Anxious, scared, and nervous were some of the feelings I had moments before I boarded my flight. I had no idea what lay ahead of me. Hundreds of thoughts cluttered my mind. I wondered if I had made the right choice about studying abroad in a completely different country, far away from friends and family.

All these feelings were totally valid, but if I had known what I would feel and experience with the students I met abroad, they wouldn’t have crossed my mind. The first day after landing in Costa Rica, I stuck by my roommate Molly. We went through that awkward stage of talking about our majors and the classes we were about to start at Universidad Veritas. Fast forward to a few days ago, we planned our own three-day trip to Monteverde, where we got an Airbnb and had the time of our lives singing karaoke. This level of friendship formed within just four weeks.

You might be wondering if I’m some crazy extrovert, but I’m not. I had the chance to interview some of my newfound friends about advice for students planning to study abroad. Here is what they had to say:

Ella Barth 

“Making the decision to go abroad is already a big step that a lot of people wouldn’t normally take, especially living in a completely different country with people you don’t know and without friends and family. But remember, the people around you will be in the same boat. It’s definitely easier to make friends and connections because you all share a common goal: to learn new things. That common denominator helps you go out and experience different cultures, different languages, and learn from those experiences. I feel like a lot of people overthink and worry they won’t make friends or enjoy their time abroad, but it’s often easier than they expect.”

Molly Williams

“One of my favorite quotes ever is from the movie We Bought a Zoo. In this particular scene, the father says to his son, ‘Sometimes all it takes is 20 seconds of insane courage or embarrassing bravery, and I promise you something great will come of it.’ So, I would take that message to heart. Even if you just put yourself out there for 20 seconds to go up to a new person and ask, ‘Can I sit here?’ That will be huge.” 

Kennan Norton 

“I think it’s really similar to when people first come to university. It’s a whole new world for everybody. In this case, it’s literally a new country. The best thing you can do for yourself is embrace the new atmosphere and put yourself out there. A lot of the people who come to these programs have a lot in common, so it just happened that I was surrounded by people I genuinely got along with and found some I really clicked with. From there, it’s just a matter of reaching out and being a little shameless about wanting to hang out with these people and get to know them better. It’s a short amount of time, so you have to make the most of it and go after it early.”

Some of the things we did after getting to know each other for a few hours included hitting restaurants and cafes to chat and get some homework done. We also enjoyed a paint night while listening to music. In our second week, we explored our neighborhood by walking to local markets, playing basketball at our local park, and having a game night. During our third and fourth weeks, we went on hikes and planned a group trip to Monteverde.

These activities not only helped us bond but also gave us a deeper appreciation for Costa Rican culture and landscapes. Students can look forward to immersing themselves in vibrant local markets, enjoying outdoor sports like basketball, and organizing group outings to nearby natural attractions like Monteverde. These experiences enhance your study abroad journey, offering meaningful opportunities to connect deeply with Costa Rican culture and forge lasting friendships.

Estrella Rivera is a student at California State University Fullerton and an ISA Featured Photo Blogger. She is studying with ISA in San José, Costa Rica.