Thomas Hayden, Sophia University Exchange Fall 2024
In the days leading up to a study abroad, it is difficult to picture the local people, how you might interact with them, and whether or not you will make friends through cultural differences. In a country like Japan, where over 95% of the population is Japanese, and over one third of its citizens between ages 18 and 25 have never been outside of the country, it was very difficult for me to imagine making friends as a foreigner in this incredibly homogenous culture. Being an American (or being of any background that is not East Asian) in Japan makes one stand out among the crowd. And when I arrived at my study abroad university, I indeed felt different from my Japanese peers on account of my different race, fashion, hairstyle, and demeanor. When I found myself in more intimate social settings with locals, my foreign background was plainly referenced or asked about multiple times, and I had trouble participating in conversation due to a language gap and cultural references that were lost on me. And yet, despite these numerous “barriers,” my local Japanese friends whom I spend quality time with are proof that I can fit in.
The greatest thing I have learned on my study abroad is that friendship, in its most essential form, is a universal human culture. This means that no matter what linguistic or cultural barriers might exist, you can find people who share in your way of thinking and create real friendships together. Of course, no one can be friends with everyone; this is true even within your own local culture. So, the key to finding people who you can build friendships with is to simply meet as many people as possible. During a study abroad, you will find friends in the most unexpected ways, whether that is fellow abroad students or local people. I met my closest Japanese friends in a volleyball circle, a school program, a study circle, a barbecue event, a language class, a bowling outing, an anthropology class, and many other such settings. It is for this reason that I believe the quickest way to make friends is to participate in as many school events and clubs as possible, and say yes to every opportunity that you can. And memories made with friends, in my opinion, are the most memorable part of any study abroad.
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