“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art…. It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
The professional benefits of an international internship are obvious. You gain hands-on professional experience in an exciting global market which makes your resume shine and makes you stand out from your peers. However, an internship abroad also offers many personal benefits, like being able to make friends from around the world.
7 benefits of making friends around the world:
1. You’ll learn about another culture first-hand.
No matter how much you read about another culture, there is nothing like talking to a local about their experience. It’s a way of seeing another culture live and breathe. You get to see what is behind the façade when you make friends with someone from another country and experience their traditions and customs.
2. Networking opportunities.
As economies become increasingly globalized, professionals need to adapt. One way is to establish relationships and networks with professionals in your field who are working in other countries. Understanding your industry in a global context will widen the scope of opportunity. Moreover, it’s always good to meet and befriend international colleagues. It helps you understand your field.
3. You’ll have a greater sense of empathy for the world.
It’s easy to care for and consider the people in your daily life – your neighbors, your community members, the people that surround you. Even though we like to think that we care about what’s happening to people outside our borders, these issues can feel so far from our reality and our circles, that we sometimes turn a blind eye to important global events. Making friends from around the world can stretch our sense of empathy beyond our communities and country. Making international friends makes you realize that we are all human beings who all agree on one thing – we want peace. Opening up your heart and mind to someone from a different cultural background will change you for the better.
4. You’ll widen your circle of friends.
Once you start making friends abroad with people from different cultures, it becomes easier and easier to continue to make connections with people from many different backgrounds. You become good at establishing connections with people on the international circuit, giving you access to a much more diverse group of people who will give you a more expansive, interesting worldview.
5. The sweet couch-surfing opportunities.
The best way to travel is crashing on the couches of the interesting people you’ve met from around the globe. By being friends and living with a local you’ll have a much more authentic experience. You can meet their friends, explore their neighborhood and try the local grub, not to mention, it tends to be a lot cheaper than traveling like a typical tourist.
6. You can make language buddies.
If you don’t practice speaking a foreign language, you’ll never learn it – no matter how much grammar and vocabulary you memorized in school. Making friends with people from different parts of the world who speak foreign languages allows you to practice in a friendly and relaxed environment. It’s the kind of opportunity that lots of people pay good money for.
7. The cultural exchange.
Sharing your own culture’s music, food, and customs with another person is an incredibly rewarding experience. You start to see your culture from a different perspective while learning about where someone else comes from. Learning how to appreciate and savor these differences will make you a more cultured, open-minded, and international person.
