Words and photos by Gianna Messia, who studied abroad with ASA in Florence during Fall semester 2024.
It is a frightening thought to study abroad without knowing anybody. Maybe you're planning to study abroad with friends from your home university. Or you might be traveling alone in hopes of meeting people from all over the world. You might even plan to find your forever friends. Whichever way you're deciding to go abroad, I have a few tips to help you navigate friendships during this time away from home!
I am walking proof that going abroad alone, not knowing anyone, can result in some of your best memories and adventures. Before studying abroad (in the fall of 2024), I was hesitant to go for the sole reason of not knowing one person who would be studying the same semester as me. Spring seemed to be a popular time, as students tend to lean toward the warmer months and like returning home in spring to even warmer weather ahead. In my case, I was a senior graduating in May 2025, and my only choice was to go abroad during the fall semester.
Without having Instagram at the time, I was given the names of my roommates, but was unable to connect with them through social media like a lot of students usually do. It wasn't until I opened the door to my apartment that I met my roommates for the next four months. What I do remember from departing the U.S. is that I had made friends with other American students on my flights. I remember introducing myself and asking where they were heading — ironically, to Florence as well. I also remember specifically asking them for help getting my luggage on and off the plane with the little arm muscles I had at the time. From this one small interaction, I made friends who remained during my time in Florence. On the very last day, they walked to my apartment in the center of the city, and we all departed in the same car together, sharing the memory of meeting at the airport just four months prior.
Making friends abroad can be a scary thing. It takes courage and confidence to introduce yourself to strangers. Lean into your community. While you're away, make sure to take advantage of joining a sports team at your university, taking a language class, volunteering, or finding a regular café where you become a familiar face.
Little by little, I started finding my people. Some were locals who loved showing me their favorite spots — little gelato shops tucked into side streets, parks where time seemed to slow down. Others were fellow Americans who became like family because we were all figuring it out together. We celebrated birthdays that felt more like milestones, shared meals that reminded us of home, and spent countless nights laughing about things that had gone wrong that day — missed trains, language barriers, and cultural misunderstandings that were frustrating in the moment, but hilarious later.
What surprised me most was how deep these friendships became, and how quickly. When you live abroad, you rely on each other in ways that go beyond just eating a pasta dinner together. You help each other navigate apartment problems, plan trips to different countries, renew visas, or simply sit together when homesickness hits hard. There’s an unspoken understanding that you’re all far from home, trying to build one wherever you are.
The first week away is crucial. This is the time everyone is starting fresh. It can be helpful to attend events such as welcome nights, group dinners, and activities in the country you're residing in. My biggest piece of advice is to remind yourself you’re in a different country! Your identity is completely new. You can be whoever you want to be! Put yourself out there, as the semester away feels like a week-long trip. Time truly flies by!
Thanks, Gianna!