They're my Friends and Family!

The easy step of boarding the plane towards my new adventure

Getting on a plane to come to Mauritius was fairly easy, compared to the fear I was having of not making friends during my time studying abroad.

Making new friends will be one of the most beautiful and eyeopening experiences you will go through when studying abroad.
It was for me, after I got over my social awkwardnes.

The amount of new people you meet and their subcultures will all at once be baffling and magical and you will become more open to the world as this pushes you to overlook many of your differences. It's going to be a new culture, there's will be differences, appreciate them and learn about them.

I was never socially outgoing growing up. Turns out I'm the introvert who needs a little push. Starting conversions was usually one of the most difficult tasks I could ever face. Continuing one was a lot worse. I would play the words in my head for a few minutes wondering what exactly I was supposed to say in that instant, at which point it would have gotten a little bit too awkward. I remember relying on my little cousin, she's two years younger than me, to make conversations so I wouldn't have to go through such a painfully awkward situation of giving one word answers while everyone looked at me expecting to hear more. She was a natural.

And I wasn't.

But my worrying was unnecessary. The other students at my new school were truly open and welcoming; a sea of warm, eager faces. I realised that they too were starting a new journey, moving from high school to university. They also didn't know many people and were open to broadening their horizons.

New Friends

On that very first day of orientation many friendships were formed, and today we still acknowledge each others in the hallways an even, get to work together in class.

From that day forth, I've been meeting new people, even outside of school. And as time goes by, it becomes easier to interact, even if sometimes I'm confused about whether to use English, Creole or French.  Now I end up mixing the three though, but there's more English and Creole in it than French.

It's not just the fellow students that you meet that become important along this journey. Studying at uni, especially abroad has given a new perspective on the relationship between lecturers and students.

I've made the acquaintance of great lecturer's, particularly one wonderful lady who is very close to us, her students. I love how she manages to establish a relationship based on trust because she is ready to relate to us as university students, based upon her own previous experiences as a student. She particularly cares for international students, having been one herself sometime back.

I can definitely say that the people you meet on such a journey are surely going to add value to your experience. Lucky me, not only did I get to become friends with delightful people from Mauritius, I also got to meet those from my country as well. Yes, we have our own little Seychellois family. Big smile!

The Seychellois Family

I met a nice group of girls after my arrival in Mauritius who were staying in the same apartment building as I was. They were an essential part of my life as an 'international student', despite being a year ahead of me.

New addition to the family

Once I got to know them, I don't remember day when I would come home from school and not knock on the door of apartment number 5, to tell them about my school days and anything that was bothering me, literally anything!
 
There's even this little tradition among us
of handing down knowledge of where to eat, shop and visit to generations to come, which I now pass on to new members of the family.

They are my friends, my family.

However, if you're still a little unsure about making friends during your student sejours, you can always follow tips from different sites. Some work!

A story I've wanted to share for a while now

It was the first Saturday after the New Year of 2013. My friends and I met for the first time since we'd last for our a-level exams. We hadn't seen each other in while so we'd decided to have a picnic and reminisce about all the memories we'd created together. It was yet another moment being added to our repertoire of memories.
 

© My friends from back home and I taking a group photo

 There's a moment I remember quite well; we all huddled together for a group photo as we always did. "Our journey begins! Life after the a-levels!" we shouted on queue as if we'd practiced this line before coming, lifting our hands to the air.

"To whatever happens after all this! May we always cherish the memories we make from now on."

Of course we didn't know what was in store for us. We had no idea where we would be or what we would be doing, even in a few days from then.

Two weeks later, our A-level results were announced and that brought me here: To my life as an international student. The moment I was enrolled to study in Mauritius a frenzy was set in motion with little moments that I believe are worth saving, both the good and the bad.

This topic is of a personal interest to me. It's such an intense experience filled with many discoveries that I want to share with you. I've had this identity for two years now, and I can say that through my various experiences, I've made the most of it. 

There's been such a great transition during these few years.  I've made friends from Mauritius and well as many from Seychelles who were studying before me. I've been through many challenging days and euphoric ones. This journey has not been solely about broadening my textbook intelligence but making the most of this life in every way to discover myself.

There isn't a perfect handbook to detail the experience of being an international student. I'd wished for it! Others have wished for it too. I believe there never will be as, not all experiences are the same.

I wish to share with you my unique experience, in the hopes that some of you will find little things that you can relate to. Or, that you will all learn about what it is like for me as an international student.