Making friends as an international student

The first time I arrived in Australia was over a decade ago as an international student. You can only imagine how thrilled I was to be on this two-year adventure in a strange land and living on my own.

I visualised all the trips I would be embarking on during semester breaks - the Great Barrier Reef, Parliament House in Canberra, the Kimberley, diving with sharks, backpacking through Tasmania, seeing the Twelve Apostles from a helicopter and so much more. I had so many stories to take back home. I came home for Christmas and only then realised how much I missed family and the friends I grew up with. I found it hard at first to settle back in. I think there was a letting go sort of process that needed to happen.

I was never homesick as an international student. Okay wait, I recall one moment I wished that I was home. It was the day I arrived in Adelaide for the first time. It was a 38-degree day and I caught the wrong bus because I was waiting on the wrong side of the road! Back home, we drive on the right-hand side of the road. It never got that blistering hot where I was from and I was struggling with the groceries I was carrying. I digress though. I never felt homesick then for two main reasons. Firstly, if I really wanted to, I could jump on a plane and fly home. The other was the fact that I had met so many wonderful people during those two years. Some have become really significant friendships. They were people I met at uni or during placement, they were my teammates in my soccer team, and I even formed friendships through meeting people as I travelled around Australia. The uni was a central base though. I recall them connecting me with a current student from my home country even before I had arrived. There were lots of activities throughout the year as well that allowed me to meet people. 

Now that semester break is approaching, I think about how different life is at the moment. Despite missing family and friends back home, I am unable to leave to see them. Even within Australia, borders open and close quite quickly. It’s not that easy planning interstate travel. I feel like I miss home more now that I’m not here temporarily. But I have found truly amazing friendships and life-giving people. These friends have truly become family.